The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1935. BROADCASTING.

Evening Star, Issue 21966, 28 February 1935, Page 10

The Evening Star THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1935. BROADCASTING.

It was before the days of bioadcasting that Henry Lawson met his rouseabout who “ hadn’t any opinions, hadn’t any ideas.” Such a prodigy to-day would be impossible. Everybody has opinions about broadcasting, and the impulse seems to be stronger in that than in almost any other department of human interest —certainly of human entertainment —to express them. The New Zealand Broadcasting Board itself has commented that “ probably half a million people go to pictures : every' week, and yet it would be safe to say that less than .0001 per cent, of those picture patrons write to the theatre managers criticising or commending the films they have seen. How different is the position in broadcasting! No sooner have the tones of some indifferent soprano died on the loud speaker than a hundred pens fly to paper all over the country in earnest protest. No sooner has a speaker remarked that the first German super-dreadnought was launched in 1908 than a hundred letters are being written to the Broadcasting Board pointing out that , it was a year later, 'ft is quite impossible to ‘ get away with anything over the air.’ " it was not surprising, therefore, that the introduction of the new Broadcasting Amendment Bill should have Jed to quite a lively little debate in Parliament before members could peruse its contents. It was risky criticism that was indulged in in those circumstances, as when one Labour member suggested that one purpose of the Bill was to give monopolistic rights to the. Government to use the -air for campaigning. Actually there is no reference in the Bill to the broadcasting of controversial matter. But, , as the measure would make the board ruler in its own house, instead of being subject to regulations by the Post and Telegraph Department which in the past have forbidden “ propaganda of a controversial nature,” it has been intimated that control of such matter will rest henceforth at its discretion. Mr Howard wanted assurance that, if the Government was to use the air for electioneering purposes, the same right would be given to the Opposition. It should be ! unthinkable that that should not be done: a main hope of not a few listeners will be that there may not be too much of it from either source. Some other curious criticisms were expressed. Mr Ansell, supported by an, anonymous interjector, complained that the programmes put oyer by the A stations were, generally speaking, “ of mediocre character, only records, tinned stuff.” In our experience there have been more complaints of the pro-

grammes of local talent, desirable though it is that that should bo encouraged. Mr Ansell felt the need of an “ entertainment manager ” on the board. What is really required, we should think, is an entertainment manager who should be able to satisfy everyone—an impossible task. Each A station at present has a programmes manager, and there is a programmes department at headquarters, in which experts are represented. Mr J. A; Lee, speaking from the Labour side, seemed to find more pleasure in records than Mr Ansell, since he admitted that “genuine music lovers got value every day of their lives, listening to some of the world’s greatest artists.” As to the “ relief rates of pay,” which he complained were given to local performers, relief workers would be happy to receive them. The debate showed — what was obvious enough before—that the B . stations have no dearth of friends, and strong pleas were made for the tolerance of that advertising system, which, if it were once allowed, would soon cause a position in which there would soon be only one opinion on broadcasting, instead of as many opinions as listeners-in. Thb Minister has promised to consider the , appointment of a listeners’ representative on the new board. If he tries to represent everybody he will have an exacting task, but the board should be improved if the right persons are appointed to it representing cultural and other interests, and improvement should be found in the system -which seeks to place A and B stations under a single, and the board’s own, control.