Submissions on TV body

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33155, 20 February 1973, Page 2

Submissions on TV body

When a Christchurch deputation meets the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Douglas) tomorrow to discuss plans for the siting of the proposed new broadcasting corporations, it will press for the second television corporation to be sited in Christchurch.

It will also present a case for the proposed ; radio corporation to be set up in Christchurch.

This policy was decided at a meeting in the City Council chambers yesterday under the chairmanship of the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering). The meeting was attended by local members of Parliament and representatives of local bodies, the Chamber of

Commerce, the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, the South Island Promotion Association, the Canterbury (Progress League, and the Canterbury Musicians’ Union. No reporters Newspaper reporters were not admitted to the meeting Afterwards, Mr Pickering told “The Press” of the : decision. “We are going to put up both to the Minister. We came to the conclusion that ' the reason why all open | ational broadcasting should j be away from Wellington is I that it is then free from any suggestion of political influence. The meeting’s decision was unanimous." Laud at Opawa Mr Pickering said the deputation would draw the I Minister’s attention to the I fact that the N.Z.B.C. had !eight acres of land at Opawa ' which was bought with the (idea of putting up new (studios. “We think they : have this land, and they now i have the opportunity to put up something worth while here. It lends weight to our argument.” There would be a great imbalance if both television channels were in the North Island, Mr Pickering said. . The holding of the Com monwealth Games in ChristI church was the main reason 'why colour television was. coming to New Zealand soi soon, he said. The N.Z.B.C. would have to concentrate almost all its colour television services and technical! staff in Christchurch for the first six months of colour, and this would provide ani ideal basis on which to build the corporation in the city.} Large bill The N.Z.B.C. would have a large bill for colour television services in the four main centres no matter where the second television corporation was based, he said. The deputation to the Minister will be led by Mi Pickering, and will comprise representatives of local bodies, the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the public relations office and local members of Parliament.