WIRELESS BROADCASTING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 34, 8 August 1925, Page 8

WIRELESS BROADCASTING

COMPLAINT OF MONOPOLY,

"I know it is a dangerous thing to set up in business as a prophet," declared Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South), in the House of. Representatives yesterday, when protesting against the contract recently entered into with the Dominion Broadcasting Company, "but within two years I will have every hon. gentleman complaining of this service.", Mr. Howard condemned the monopoly which had been given by Parliament to one company to control broadcasting in the Dominion for five years, and said it would mean that 75 per cent, of the present local sets would have to be scrapped. The Prime Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) : "Why!"

Mr. Howard: "Because they won't reach outside of Wellington, and there is nothing provided in Wellington for them." Mr. Howard criticised the constitution of the board of control, saying that there was only one representative of the people on the board. Mr. Coates : "Oh, no. The State has two members." [ Mr. Howard replied that the real position was that there was only one re-, presentative of the people against three others. The company was part and parcel of the P. and T. Department, and was protected by Act of Parliament. Such protection was not afforded by any other Act. In Queensland the Government had a monopoly of broadcasting. ■ It was Mr. Howard's opinion that the municipalities in the four centres of the Dominion should have taken over the broadcasting service, and that with a email, loading pharge on the various appurtenances it would have been possible to have had a service available for the man of small means, who would merely have had to pay for what he received. At the present time a man with a set costing £150- or £2CO paid a license fee of 30s, but the "little kid" with a 7s 6d set had to pay tKe same fee. Already there were shops in Wellington which had to give up selling wireless appliances because of the operation of the Act.

The Postmaster-General (the Hon. Sir James Parr) : "Do you say that?'' Mr. Howard replied in the affirmative. The company had a monopoly for five years with right of renewal. "No," interjected Sir James Parr. "None whatever; there is no right of renewal."

Mr. Howard said he would withdraw his assertion on that point, but remarked that, whilst he was a still small voice crying in the wilderness, he maintained that before two years had expired he would have every hon. gentleman complaining of the service. Crystal sets would now have to go put of existence, and more expensive valve sets would have to be acquired. The new law had caused .1 great wrong to be done to, the children.

Mr. A. L. Monteith (Wellington East) also drew attention to the subject.

Sir James Parr said he proposed to take an early opportunity ■ of explaining the whoie contract to 'the House. The first two stations were to be set up in Auckland and Christcmireh. That hud -been done in accordance with the best advice. His advice was that these two stations would bo sufficient for the time being. The stations in Wellington would be taken over by the company. It was the opinion of those competent to judge that more power and better results would b: available from the two stations.

Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon) asked what was the opinion of municipalities which mi^hl desire lo go in for broadcasting.

Sir James replied that he did not think ony munkipaJitv -would *<»nt *b put it* oicuify iflte bi'o»dustujj.