RADIO ENTERPRISE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 32, 6 August 1936, Page 9

RADIO ENTERPRISE

OVERSEAS ARTISTS

REPLY TO CRITICISM

SYDNEY, August 5.

Replying to Mr. John Tait's criticism of the Broadcasting Commission, Mr. W J. Cleary, chairman of the commission, directed attention to the small number of overseas artists brought to Australia by private entrepreneurs and to the restricted appearances of these artists. . ..; .'•. ' % -. ■ He said that the reason . why the commission was able to pay more for artists was because the commission had a tremendous audience of listeners who clamoured for good music and insisted that the commission should be enterprising. The commission was obliged to do its best to improve musical standards in' Australia;: and in yielding to the public clamour was bound'to recover some of the cost by public concerts. A percentage of artists insisted on singing to the ( public. Mr. Cleary asked what private entrepreneurs had ever done for symphony music "■ ■. -."■■■■ ■'■'."••■.•■■'

A cable published yesterday stated that theatrical and concert managers had sent a strong written protest to the Prime -Minister, against the practice . of the Australian Broadcasting Com- N mission in entering into direct'corn* petition with private concert entrepreneurs whose business was seriously affected: and prejudiced.: Mr. John Tait, general manager of J.C. Williamson, Ltd., said that the Broadcasting Commission, which depended on public fees for its existence," had gone beyond reasonable limits in its methods of competing with theatres and other entertainments, outbidding entrepreneurs for leading overseas artists and charging ,the public for admission to concerts, with the result that it had become impossible for theatrical concert managers to ; secure "the engagement of prominent, artists. Mr. Tait contended i.thaVthe' "Broadcasting Commission, \ should confine its activities to studio broadcasting. . .... ;