THE BROADCASTING SITUATION.

Evening Star, Issue 22681, 22 June 1937, Page 13

THE BROADCASTING SITUATION.

TO TEE EDITOR. Sir, —Ono of the cryptic slogans of tiie Labour Party in Great Britain and here is, “ Each for all and all for each.” The Listeners’ League knows no politics, but we have a slogan, “ The air, free, for all ” (subject to reasonable “policing”). Th6_ official letter paper bears the inscription, “ A nonpolitical body promoted to, safeguard the interests of radio listenei’s.” Prior to the annual meeting of the league last year, through your columns, I pointed out to listeners the untenable position in which, as listeners, we found ourselves even then, and. predicted the possibility of a more serious position. Listeners know what has happened in the meantime —I do nob refer to the purchasing of B stations; —and in consequence of the definite apathy of large numbers of listeners, wo are still unable to “ speak ” to the authorities effectively. The position is farcical, surely, when we remember that during the past four years we have paid into an institution which is the people’s the sum of £BOO,OOO, and we can barely “ knock ” at the front door of the managing director—our director, I shall refer to other matters more particularly at Tuesday’s meeting. It is satisfactory to know that at least a few hundreds have recently been aroused from their lethargy and have become members of the Teague, but, as I have said publicly we need at least half (say, 4,000) of the licensees in and around Dunedin to join up. I urge that the league must have a “ loud-speaker voice.” so that it may effectively deal with the many important matters which are sure to arise in the future in connection with radio affairs. I urge that those who are not members (the fee is only Is—it is not money wo grasp after, but members) should immediately communicate with the secretary, so that they may bo registered before Tuesday’s meeting, or, failing this, to be good enough to lend ns their support by attending the meeting—they can he enrolled then—and taking part in the proceedings.— I am, etc., W. J, B.irdslev, President, Otago Radio Listeners’ League. June 20.