WHAT DO LISTENERS WANT?

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

WHAT DO LISTENERS WANT?

Among tho questions discussed by tho Postmaster-GeneraP with the radio trade deputation, was whothei tho listeners desire a change in the control of broadcasting. Mr. Donald was assuicd by members of the deputation that they thought listeners wanted it, vciy much. , The lack of oiganisatiou .imong the .community served by bioadcastiug-a lack which seems 'extremely, diflicult to remedy—has had the natural result, that nobody really knows what the listeners think. Commenting on the deputation's representations, - Mr.■■■ a. E. Harris, general manager, of,the-corn-pan?, said that the desires ,of listeners could be tested by a plebiscite. . That is indeed the-.only way it could be done —and it cannot be done without great trouble and expense. '."la the absence of collected opinions it would of course be absurd.to say that the listeners are unanimous in their desiro'for a-change. It would be equally wrong to assume that there is an overwhelming majority in favour of the status quo. It is only possible for those who have opportunities to hear many opinions to* assume a verdict... The writer's strong impression—it may bo. r wj>rth littles-is that listeners feel that the Broadcasting Company has not been as successful as it should have been, in serving tho public; that it has promised more, aud done less,/ than it could clo. It has enjoyed an iheomejof ever-increas-ing maguitudo, without giving, a commensurately increased service. Listeners who hold these "Views do uot necessarily demand, this, that, or, tho other form of control, but they do long for better programmes, better transmitted. In Wellington tho recent appearance of 2ZW has strengthened their criticisms of 2YA, 6spc'cially in regard to quality of transmission.