2 Ways For Private Radio

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 3

2 Ways For Private Radio

f.X’.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 20.

The controversy over pirate radio stations and private broadcasting underlined the importance of public understanding of just what the Broadcasting Corporation was empowered to do under existing legislation, the chairman of the corporation (Mr C. A. McFarlane) said today.

In a statement, Mr McFarlane said there were only two ways by which private broadcasting might be granted by the corporation under existing law.

Quoting from the Broadcasting Corporation Act, 1961, Mr McFarlane said any programmes broadcast by the corporation could be provided by persons under contract

I with the corporation, having the right to provide programmes to be broadcast by the corporation. Tlie corporation was empowered to conduct surveys for the purpose of ascertaining the extent to which broadcasting services were available in any particular locality. If, as a result, the corporation considered a locality was inadequately served by existing broadcasting services it should call for applications for warrants to establish and operate a broadcasting station in that locality. Surveys Conducted Mr McFarlane said: “Surveys have been conducted continuously by the corporation, and where broadcasting services were regarded as being inadequate the corporation has itself remedied the deficiency. “It is in this context that one should weigh up the situation that has arisen over the so-called pirates,” he said. 111-advisedly they had decided to put to sea and operate broadcasting stations without reference to the corporation. All but one withdrew when they weighted the odds against success in this sort of venture. Mr McFarlane said that only then did the last one turn to

the corporation for a warrant to operate ashore. By this time there were other contenders for the right to operate private stations.

“It will be appreciated, I am sure, that the corporation could not be expected to bend to this kind of pressure,” he said. He said that as an alternative to private stations sudden demand had arisen for time on existing broadcasting

stations. The demand was out of all proportion to anything existing before. Mr McFarlane said even if it were possible to do anything in this direction it simply could not be done at short notice.

"The corporation has requested its Director-General to undertake investigation into the whole matter," he said. “If after the investigations have been completed the corporation decided that it is feasible to enter into contracts it will be necessary to weigh the claims of the present applications, and it will no doubt be thought desirable in the public interest to announce the intention publicly at the proper time to give other people the opportunity to apply,” he concluded.

Flight To Pole.—The first flight of the summer season to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station took place on Wednesday. A ski-equipped Hercules left McMurdo Station at 9.32 a.m. It landed at the Pole station at 12.28 p.m. On board were 33 servicemen and the commander of the Antarctic Support Activities (Captain H. M. Kosicuisko).