RADIO CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 60, 4 December 1933, Page 10

RADIO CONTROL

Future of B Stations DEPUTATION’S VIEWS Sequel to Protest Meeting Conveying resolutions passed at an indignation meeting at the Town Hall on Thursday night, a deputation waited on the Postmaster-General (Hon. Adam Hamilton) on Saturday morning. The first resolution demanded that 2ZW, which the Governmen; has bought and the Broadcasting Board has closed, be maintained with the same hours and individuality as now, and the second that B stations be allowed to gain revenue by the use of 30 words of advertising matter in any 30 minutes. Mr. Hamilton replied that the Government had only the good of broadcasting in mind in doing what it had done. He had no objection to good advertising, but broadcasting was out of hand in Australia and the United States of America, where there was advertising. The Government was laying the foundations of a system. Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., introduced the deputation, which represented the 2ZW Radio Listeners’ Club. Mr. R. R. Scott, the principal speaker, emphasised that the two resolutions were distinct and independent. Pointing out that the Minister had said that the British Broadcasting Company was a model for New Zealand, he asserted that the 8.8. C. plan of entire public ownership, if put into operation in this country, would not provide an adequate service because New Zealand had only a thirtieth of the 8.8.C.’s revenue. Station 2ZW, if left to itself, could have surmounted the record difficulty the Government bad predicted for B stations, because that station had not offended the record companies by playing popular records so much that they became hackneyed, which was what the companies really objected to.

2YC Not a Substitute.

“The listeners say definitely that 2YC is not a satisfactory substitute for 2ZW,” said Mr. Scott. “A station is not a soulless piece of steel but has a personality.” He said the New Zealand Federation of Radio Listeners planned to secure the opinion of every listener on the questions they were discussing, and he was sure that the listeners would give the same answer that the crowded ball in Wellington had given. To a question from Mr. Hamilton as to whether they wanted the station to be kept in the same building aud to have the same staff, Mr. Scott said that the (Government should not bee bound’ to keep on every employee, but those they represented wanted to preserve as far as possible the individuality of the station. It did not seem to be appreciated in this country that, a radio station had its public like a newspaper. The public would be wildly enthusiastic if Mr. L. E. Strachan were put in charge of 2ZW again, although he had been only a tenth pait of its success.

Answering further questions by Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Scott said that he thought that as many B stations should be allowed to operate as possible,without. jamming. . Other speakers for the deputation were Father Crocker, Mr. H. F. von Ilaast, Mr. F. J. Whelan, and Mr. A. Sando. Mr. R. Semple, M.P.. also supported the deputation’s requests.

Authorities See “Whole Picture.” Air. Hamilton said that he and the Government had nothing in their minds but to do the right thing for broadcasting. Those the deputation represented saw tlie listeners’ point of view, but the authorities saw the whole picture. New Zealand had not a large part of the wave-band for broadcasting, and if many stations operated the ether would soon be jammed. There were 30 B stations already, and there had to be a limit. If they thought that unrestricted competition would solve the problem > they were mistaken. Parliament had ! put the conduct of broadcasting in the hands of the board, which was working up to a proper control of it. They hoped to give better satisfaction than 2ZW had given. Afany difficulties with copyright and records were looming up for the B stations. New Zealand was not following the British system in everything, but it followed it in the matter of revenue collection, absence of B stations and absence of advertising. The Government wanted to lay good foundations | for broadcasting, and it wanted listeners to help it. I Sponsored Programmes. In bis opiniou the allowing of sponI sored programmes had been 'a mistake. ! The first, request had been for spoil- ! sored talks, which were dangerous be cause in a sponsored talk it was easy to get propaganda. After that the request was for sponsored programmes with the name of the sponsor mentioni ed. Following the granting of that the j demand arose for the name of the spon- ’> sor to be given out. ] There had been a further request for the product of the sponsor to be mentioned, and now they were asking I for 30 words of advertising each halfhour. lie asked, what would be wantled next? B stations would ask for I more and more rights and greater i range and power, would increase their plant, aud then find that they had not

enough money. Competition was not the last word. Mr. Hamilton said that life appreciated all that bad been said about the individuality of stations and the other advantages that had been claimed for independent control, but they did not want the position to get out of hand, as it bad in Australia and America. If most listeners could get two stations they would not be badly off, and in. the largest portion of New Zealand listeners would be able to get three or four. The Minister said that lie would consider the deputation’s requests, including the request that 2ZW be kept going. 2ZW CLOSES DOWN Silence After 2| Years’ Operating After operating for two and a half years, station 2ZW closed last evening, following a speech by Mr. R. H. Nimmo, chairman of directors of the 2ZW Broadcasting Service. Ltd., former owrfers of the station, which has been purchased by the P. and T. Department. , . . Mr. Nimmo thanked all who had assisted the station since its opening in May, 1031. From that night 2ZW would be a memory, but, he hoped, a pleasant one. After Mr. Nimmo had spoken, a short devotional service appropriate to the occasion was conducted by Mr. W .1. Mason, who has led anonymously the Sunday morning services since the station was inaugurated, and the last that listeners heard of 2ZW was the pealing of bells fading away.