Mutual Satisfaction

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 14

Mutual Satisfaction

The Southern Regional Advisory Committee to the N.Z.B.C. was very satisfied with the work it was doing, and the NJLB.C. was very satisfied with tiie regional committees, said the acting-chairman of the southern committee (Mr J. G. Barnes, of Dunedin) yesterday. Mr Barnes, after a meeting of the committee in Christchurch, gave a statement to reporters about the committee's conclusions after discussion, held in camera, on pronunciation of Maori place names on radio and television, and on religious services on televirion. Questioned, Mr Barnes said the committee had not received one letter from the public about either topic. He could not recall the committee’s having received a letter

from any member of the public on any subject concerning radio or television recently. “I am not disappointed about this. I have been in publie life too long for that I know the apathy of the public unless something concerns them directly," Mr Barnes said. He said that the committee had 20 members and they all went round asking questions and thus got a good crosssection of-the public’s view. ! “I think we represent a good . cross-section of the public.” , Asked whether the N.Z.B.C. . acted on the committee’s suggestions, Mr Barnes said: ' “Very many. I cannot name i any. We have a paper on it, . but I don’t have it here. But . the corporation has acted on . many of our recommendations. We know that they are t not . just pigeon-holed. We I are very satisfied that we are , doing good Work. The corporation is satisfied with us. “In fact, the corporation is : so satisfied with the work of

the committees, and that they cost so little, that there is a feeling that the committees : are so worth while that we should meet more often than quarterly. But that won’t happen yet.” Asked whether he thought reporters should be admitted to the committee’s, meetings so that the public could know of the grounds for the committee’s and corporation’s satisfaction, Mr Barnes said: “Definitely not. . . . Reporters would stifle the good work. You know there are always people who want to be reported and have their names in the news, so they use the sensational angle to gain news value.

“We are doing good work, and having reporters present would lessen the good work being done. The committee is of this opinion. The committee is working for the good of broadcasting as a whole.” Several; officials of the N.Z.B.C. were present at the meeting, including the Direc-tor-General (Mr G. H. Stringer).