THE P.M.G.'S SECRET

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 25

THE P.M.G.'S SECRET

BROADCAST CONTROL SCHEME i . I Tho question of revolutionising thej control of broadcasting in New Zea-, land was first seriously raised when, I in October last, tho Postinaster-Gcn-cial exploded his bombshell announcement that tho broadcasting company's licence, expiring in Januaiy, would not be loncwcd. That was nine months ago, but though it must havo been obvious that a new system could be much better devised if plonty of time was allowed than if it was hurried, nothing has been to indicate anything iv tho nature 'of a piactical policy. The Eon. J. B. Donald's statement that the Government would assume control of 'tho broadcasting service did nothing to satisfy the minds of those who weio interested in tha subject, whether they approved of tho i cessation of the company's control or 1 not. Tho Minister has never explain- f ed how he proposes the system should, be run, though ho has indicated that it was the Government's intention not i to assume complete control, but merely control of the technical side of the seivice. This partial Government control may or may' not remain in the scheme which should shortly mako its appearance. , Last week a deputation representing tho radio trade in general waited upon the Postmaster-General and made proposals—fully reported in "The Post" on Thursday—that control of the "A" stations should be vested in a corporation of five members, appoint!ed by the Government but removed ,from political contiol, and embodying representatives, of the tiado and the listeners. Mr. 'Donald welcomed the statement of the deputation's case, but declined to give any indication of the proposals which, he said, were now a matter for Cabinet decision. It seems a littlo unfortunate that all the parties interested in this matter should be kept entirely in the dark as to what tlie Government proposes to do with the 'business, in'which some of them aro .profoundly concerned, until it may bo too lato for any. representations to be 1 effective. And time is passing rapidly: 1 there is littlo enough time oven now to cany out a reorganisation of tho system, and by the time more urgent mattors have been attended to by Parliament that scanty time will have been severely curtailed. It will be extremely regiettablo if tho prossure of business thf« session results in a piece of hastily swallowed legislation, for a long period of broadcast' indigestion is a probable consequenc. • °