UNDER THE NEW ACT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 116, 12 November 1931, Page 22

UNDER THE NEW ACT

THE BROADCASTING BOARD The Broadcasting Board ha 3 been very severely handicapped by the delays which befel the legislation designed to bring it into existence. The measure was so simple in. itself and the principles behind it so clear that one would have supposed it tad only to be proposed to be assured of easy acceptance. But the Bill had to survive through the difficulties caused by the setting up of the Coalition Government and its life was at times despaired of eveh by. its most optimistic friends. However, all's well that ends well, and the Bill is now an Act, without any notable departure from the form in which it was first submitted to Parliament.

So far the Government has not yet announced the personnel of the board, and it is generally recognised that the selection of three suitable men is a matter of no small difficulty. But the trouble the Government will have in selecting the board is nothing to what will face the board in its first few months of work. If it had had threo or four months in which to prepare for action, it would no doubt have been able at the beginning of the year to set otf at once with a definitely improved programme system and at least an outline of policy for the extension of the service. In the circumstances, it will have little time, for more than the process of taking over the service as a going concern, and no drastic changes can be looked for. Some listeners may have built high hopes upon the change of control as certain to bring about great changes; they are advised to recognise the conditions that have been brought about by uncontrollable circumstances, and put a curb on any impatience they may feel. WHAT OF B STATIONS? 111 the Parliamentary discussions on the broadcasting Bill, much was said of the prospects of the B stations under the new regime," and the same question iB being widely discussed among listeners, who in their several districts have formed pretty accurate judgments as to the merits of these stations. No reference whatever is made in the new Act to these stations, for the simple reason that the Act simply constitutes a board to take over the Broadcasting Company's business, as that is defined in the agreement between the Post-master-General and the company. That business does not embrace B class

stations at all. It was stated by the Postmaster-General in' reply to questions in the House that the matter of dealing with B stations was entirely ane for the board to deal with, and it will probably bp met along fairly simple lines. Some of the B stations are of excellent quality, and are well placed, and the board may choose to incorporate them, in whole or in part, in its system, either by purchase or some other arrangement, as the simplest way of extending- its coverage. New regulations are expected shortly, and it may be found that these will have the effect of encouraging the transfer of B stations to board control.