TELEVISION FOR N.Z.?

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 307, 23 September 1944, Page 8

TELEVISION FOR N.Z.?

Prospects Mentioned By Minister QUESTION OF RADIO FEES Tlie creation of reserves from the revenue of the broadcasting services was supported by the Minister in Charge ot Broadcasting, Mr. Jones, when the departmental estimates came before the House of Representatives yesterday. He said the amount in hand, approximately £1,46(1,000, would be insufficient to meet the prospective projects of buildings, reequipment of stations mid the installation of television Opposition members bad drawn num lion to the annual report of the services which showed that (lie vast portion ot the revenue came from the licence tees. One member said it was computed that only 12/6 of the 25/- fee was necessary to maintain th* service, Mr Jones said that due to the war a big building programme estimated to cost £740,000 had been, deferred. 1h t and the cost of reequipping static - would require much money Ihme was also the question of new stations to .ene districts where reception was not . „ood In regard to television, it was estimated to cost £2,230,000 for the equipment to provide a three hours’ nightly P«> S ram"ie in each of the four main centres, whne technical expenses would £94,000 and programmes to £Bie>,ooo. we could not possibly do all that on a >*c’ense fee of 25/- and there was somethin,, to be said for building up fl,iaac „\ a L™ ser '' It was nonsense to say that the P°P“ larity of the programmes . a ., cc . o “ ut sU the increase in licences, said Mr. (Opposition. Tauranga). who c ° u , derailed the present method of control of broadcasting as a luthlets mo, poly?” He said" people had sets to hear the war news and not the programmes. Because of that monopoly we had the highest fees ant a bout the worst programmes in the world. He> asl nd what was being done to encourage local talent, which should replace the dreary repetition of gramophone records Uo Mr. b Mo d rton t ' (Opposition suggested that at least twelve r. nouncers should be included on the staff. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Ho land also advocated reduced fees and criticized the programmes. It mv blood run cold,” he said, to near the mongrel English that is put over the ate Why do we have so much American stuff broadcast and why do we continue to put over that slang whim we try to teach correct English in our schools? We ought to put over the am the things that we are proud of in our education and language. lhe letters which members of the House receive indicate how the broadcasting is affecting ilm language of our people. . 1 Mr. Carr (G overnin 7^ m fL“ t . ar n U o ) t care that though many P^P 1 ® D 2!f s “k s he American humour and wisecracks, uc personally thought them clever American broadcasts w-ere stimulatin ß and On same applied to American Hterature. vn the other hand, modern British litera jure and talks were stodgy and uninspirW Mr Morton : Question I .., Mr" Carr urged the greatest possib e catholicity in radio programmes. It people did not like one station they could • tU Mr. lU ßowd°n lC (bpposition, Wellington West-l said the commercial stations had X profit of £96,000 in the year ended March 31. and the Minister should consider assisting the business community by reducing radio advertising rates. 1 Mr. Jones: The best part of it goes in Mr^Bowdeii: The very argument we are using for taxation relief of industry. (T Tho h Wnister of Finance. Mr. Nash said he did not think license toes should be reduced till after the requirements of expenditure on new technical develop meats arising out of the war were, taken toto consideration. Much new equipment would be needed and it would be wise to wait a little longer before reconsidering the fees. As a general principle he would say that the radio should not be used as’ a taxation measure. Mr Jones said the amount of American material broadcast up till recently was due to the presence of Americans m New Zealand. But more British items were now going over the air than ever before, and only about one-filth of the material was American. At the em the war it was hoped to bring more at tists from overseas. New Zealand artists, particularly the younger ones comin ß foiward, wquid be encouraged.