"BELONG TO PUBLIC"

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 45, 21 August 1931, Page 8

"BELONG TO PUBLIC"

GOV£RNMENT'S ATTITUDE

V TW COMPANY'S PLAN

;v A • deputation on tho subject of ■broadcasting control waited upon the Postmaster-General, the Hon. 'j'.-.-B; Donald, from the 2YA Musical and Dramatic Advisory Committee. In his reply the Minister : said that he wished it to be very clearly understood that' the Gov--eminent regarded broadcasting us :» public utility. He asked whether ♦he deputation considered that the, » jiroposals- put forward by the •Broadcasting Company were fair to ih& public. Mr. E. Palliser, chairman of the committee, said that the deputation was the outcome of a resolution adopted at a meeting-of the 2YA Musical and Dramatic Advisory Committee, urging that the- Government should discountenance ' any alteration, of the'systeni of control and management under which th^e service had been established in New. Zealand. - Any alteration in control would necessitate; purchase from the company and a substantial sum would bo involved. . Mr. Donald: "Have you any idea in your mind what it would cost?" Mr. Palliser replied that he had not the remotest idea, but the cost would be substantial. Mr. Donald: "Do you consider the suggestion made and advertised in the* ~ papers is a satisfactory one?". Mr. Palliser replied that he had not had time to analyse it, but he thought there ■was very good food for thought, ■ and possibly for negotiation. One fact that appealed to him was that the listeners would have an important-say in control. . ''LISTENERS WOULD HAVE NO SAY WHATEVER." Mr. Donald: "I want to point out that, the listeners would have no say whatever under that arrangement." Mr. I. Levy also said that the listeners would have an important say in the control of broadcasting. The Minister replied that they could ' hot out-vote the present holdings of the Broadcasting Company, which "wouid' have 50 per cent, of the shares, and the .'listeners*. 50. per cent., distributed throughout New Zealand, the listeners to.apjwint four of the eight directors. . , The ■ Broadcasting Company, howT ever, continued the Minister, would ,haye'the chairmanship, with the casting vote as well as the ordinary'vote, * which means control.' The listeners ■■would have.no say; if the Broadcast ' 'ing Company wanted to carry a thing .out they would do so. It would not ,!: bean independent company in any i:j shape or form. ,•';,' Mr. Levy suggested that they would •Kjtespect .the listeners' interests. '■'■■■ !*"I don't want you to think, that I • '.'hold' a brief ;for any suggested said Mr. Donald, "but I do //hold the balance of power. lam putting it to' you that, where the Broadcast- ■ ing Company control the thing to-day they will control it under the scheme - now put forward by them. " < \ . ' JJeinark was made by Mr. Levy of ; i the difficulties' tinder which the com>^p.any worked on account'of the limited :.<3ißmber of. stations and the wide ter- )}■ ritory to be covered, and also the rei^quirement that the company should' put ;v on only a certain number of records, the "B" stations could fill [ I their; whole programmes, with records. ;f -If the company were to establish relay ,v "stations much of the alleged criticism. U.wpuld disappear. Certain people found : Vfault with the broadcasting service f in many cases owing to remoteness from ■: % the stations and the trouble caused by ; atmoepheric and power interference. Y. Electrical interference was a serious .grievance. . ■ ; .. . ;... Mr. Donald replied that he realised jVthat that,was so; he would see if proi ? vision could be made in the new regulations to meet the problem. ■ •'s In reply to a suggestion that the j.. Government had beeu drawing a big j-'£ Amount from the stations, Mr. Donald r.. said that that was not correct; the Government was not making anything out of: it at all; in fact,, it took them all their time to keep- level. He assured the deputation that what they had said ■', ;would receive consideration. • | t , PUBLIC EIGHTS MUST BE | .]',. PROTECTED. «. "The thought was expressed," he said, ■ r '"that broadcasting was a public utility, ; and! want to tell you that the Govern- ■' xnent are looking at it in that light; and, y furthermore, that it belongs to the republic. We have to realise that even ;'though a private company wore td opcrate as it does at present, the broad- ■_; casting of news, musical items; etc., | still belongs to the New Zealand public, f! and we have to see that .their rights are Uprotßcted. That is why 3 put the ques-.-.turn to you whether you considered V their scheme was fair to the public.... f "I want to make it very clear to.you !f-.that the Government are looking at this £»ciuestion as a public utility. I. cannot ■fja&y more than that, because it is under ij consideration at the present time, and wit- would not be, right for me to tell ?<3285».' what the Government have in fmirtd." "■.•■' ' .'■-.• ■ •:•■'.■-