RADIO BROADCASTING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 270, 20 August 1925, Page 8

RADIO BROADCASTING

A MINISTERIAL EXPLANATION “The 'final arrangements in connection with the broadcasting scheme have been delayed owing to the broadcasting syndicate with which negotiations have been conducted for several months not being prepared to accept the Government’s terms,” stated the Post-master-General (Sir James Parr), in reply to a query in the House of Representatives. “Recently, the trustees of another proposed company expressed a desire to undertake broadcasting; and, after negotiating for .several weeks, an agreement to provide service for five years has been completed. “It is-not proposed to refund any portion of license fees to either radio dealers or listeners. For nearly two years prior to April 1, listeners received the benefit of broadcasting without the payment of fees. Since that date an existing broadcasting station in each of the four centres has been subsidised to the extent of £l5 per week, and these payments have absorbed the whole of the license fees received; and it the Government’s desire to assist the pioneers of broadcasting as well as listeners, until such time as the new stations are erected. Broadcasting can onlv be successfully carried . out by co-operation, and that is the policy of the Government. The arrangement was the best that could be made to prevent the stations from closing down altogether.” In reply to another question, the Minister stated that no listeners-in fees would be available for municipal councils if they decided to go in for broadcasting concert music.