BROADCASTING BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 20981, 21 December 1931, Page 14

BROADCASTING BOARD

IMPORTANT PROBLEMS TO FACE SOME CRITICISM OF PERSONNEL / i - [Special to thb ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, December 19. Tiie newly-appointed Broadcasting Board will have a good deal of work before it in the next few mouths, according to opinions expressed to-day, and in one or two quarters the selection of the Government was criticised. “ I think the Government has made an excellent choice in the personnel of the Broadcasting Board,” said Mr C. F. Woodhead, manager of 3ZC Broadcasting Service Ltd. “ The members will have a very busy time for some months. Many problems, old and new, confront them. The leases of the premises in which existing stations are housed will run out in a few days; the agreement with Amalgamated. Wireless terminates shortly; the recent prohibition by record manufacturing companies against broadcasting will have to be dealt with immediately. When these vital problems have been disposed of the next two great questions are, to my mind, the fate of the B stations, many of whom cannot continue much longer under existing conditions; and then legislation of some sort to give the board powers to deal with the menace of electrical interference with radio reception.”

In reference to the B stations, Mr Woqdhead stated that the Government had been promising for a long time to do something for them, and more recently had promised a morning service in each main centre. Where the local B station had efficient plant as in the case of 2ZW, Wellington, and 3ZC, Christchurch, it should be given the opportunity of providing the service. “ I can’t see in what way they have had anything to do with broadcasting, and it looks to me like ‘ spoils to the victors,’ ” commented Mr Howard, M.P., on the appointments. Mr Armstrong, M.P., thought the board should have some expert know* ledge on it. “I did not know that any of the gentlemen appointed had any knowledge of broadcasting, or were in any way connected with it,” he added; “ and I don’t know what are their qualifications.”