LISTENERS’ INTERESTS

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 13

LISTENERS’ INTERESTS

LEAGUE'S ADJOURNED MEETING COMMERCIAL SERVICE APPOINTMENTS About 30 members of the Otago Radio Listeners’ League attended the adjourned annual meeting held in tbo Y.M.C.A. rooms last night, when several matters of general interest _ to listeners were introduced. Two motions —one requesting an explanation of why Australians had been appointed to positions in the commercial service and the other urging the incoming executive to influence the formation of leagues at Christchurch and Wellington—wore carried, discussion on these constituting a large portion of the business dealt with. In his opening remarks Mr Bardsley referred to the recent public meeting of protest, and said that it was the definite purpose of the executive to take no official participation in the agitation which was being precipitated with regard to the B stations. “ We are not constituted,” ho said, “ to take care of the B stations as stations, however much-we may bo interested in their successful and satisfactory operation in the interests of, our members. I venture to suggest that the owners are all alert business men, and are fully capable of looking after their own interests. I say with emphasis, however, that as a league we are definitely interested in B listeners. It is their interests, along with those of other licensees, for which the league is constituted, and our most sincere regret’is that listeners in general'have been so apathetic towards the warnings which we have at times thrown out regarding the position. ” Mr Bardsley went on to say that since last month the membership of the league had risen from 100 to over 600 v covering a wide range of general listeners. At the meeting of protest he had spoken unofficiallyand from the moral angle that if promises had been made—and Mr Booth ably and conclusively proved this—then they ought to bo honoured. He might say that in his judgment and that of many others, the Press completely misjudged the value of the vote taken. In his judgment; and he was in a most favourable situation to judge, the response to the question from the chair against the motion sub' mitted did not represent more than 10 to 15 per cent, of the 900 people present, The vociferousness of the “ Noes ” was so pronounced that it appeared to represent a larger, number than was actually the case. If the vote had been taken by a show of hands he thought his estimate would bo justified. . . ...

The league knew no politics, and its slogan was, subject to reasonable poncing,- “ The air, free for all.” Anything it sought was as a, right and not as a favour, and he thdught.it a pity that so much political atmosphere had been introduced at and since the protest meeting. Referring to a_ statement attributed to the Acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser), who was reported as saying; “They (the B stations) are using listeners and others interested to build up a ramp so that they can get an unduly high price for their stations,” Mr Bardsley said he did not take to himself the castigation implied. Nor did he in the case of tho ActingiMinister - in-i-Charge of Broadcasting (the Hon. F. Jones), who was reported to have said that there were some who were endeavouring to harass the Government in order to achieve their own ends, and that they _ were being actively assisted by individuals and organisations, which, he was inclined to think, were so acting not so much in the. interests of listeners as for reasons of their own. If Mr Jones had the Otago Listeners’ League at the hack of his mind—well, his conclusions were not warranted. Mr Bardsley went on to say that there were very definite and serious matters that a properly supported league could give its - attention and voice to. These were: (1) Why cannot the license fees bo reduced? (2) Why cannot a weekly programme costing less than 4d a week be procured p (3) How has the £BOO,OOO paid in license fees over the last four years been spent? (4) Why cannot 240,000 licensees have some representation on some committee of control? (5) What appointments to the staff have been made by the Rev. Mr Scrimgeour, where did the appointees come from, and what salaries are they being paid? The broadcasting organisation, Mr' Bardsley concluded, belonged to the people, and the people supplied tho required finances. , Mr Bardsley then moved the folloiving:— “ That the statement having appeared in the public Press that Australians have been appointed to executive positions in the commercial radio service without a proper effort to advertise to find New. Zealanders fitted for the posts, this meeting resolves that the Director of Broadcasting be sent a copy of the statement and requested to advise the league if it is justified, and, if so, to make an explanatory statement on the matter.” The was seconded by Mr G. S. Paxton, who suggested that the statement be sent to the Acting Prime Minister and not to the director. The mover agreed to the suggested amendment. Mr M. A. Fraser asked whether the news concerning the appointments had appeared in a weekly paper or in the daily Press. Mr Bardsley: In a weekly paper. It was then stated by Mr Fraser that the same weekly paper had published a statement concerning IZB, and, when challenged, had denied it. The amended motion was carried. MATTERS OF MOMENT. There were one or two points he wished to clear, said the secretary (Mr H Booth). Since the meeting in tho Concert Chamber he had been accused of working for the B stations and of using the league to benefit the B stations He wished to deny those accusations. Tho league had always helped the B stations, but it was not constituted in the sole interests of the li stations—it dealt with the interests of listeners and radio matters in general. Also he wished to make it clear that it was a non-political body. The Acting Minister in Charge of Broadcasting (the Hon. 1. Joner ) had, as had already been made known, refused to allow the league to advertise its meeting oyer the air. The speaker’s request that permission be granted to broadcast an announcement calling the meeting was quite legitimate, because it was simply a notice of a business meeting and was not intended to result in pecuniary gam for anyone. He had “ bowled the Minister out ” in tho reading of his own Act, which stated in tho course of one clause that no programme or part of a programme intended to serve as an advertisement for the pecuniary benefit of any person should bo transmitted from any broadcasting station. The Minister had made a decision directly opposed to tho wording of the clause. Referring to tho recent publicity given to the matter of the Otago Regimental Band being barred from the main station, Mr Sooth said that ap-

patently a secret service—they were called observers—listened to matter that was broadcast, but who were these observers and what were their qualifications? Listeners should not have all the say in broadcasting affairs, but they were entitled to a part say. The Advisory Council, of which he was a member, and which, was formed at the time of the Broadcasting Board, had not been of any use. It had met from time to time, but it did not do any good. What was wanted was a council that would do something of value. That was what the league was striving to bring about. Even the 8.8. C. had its advisory councils, but in New Zealand listeners spent several thousands of pounds a year, and about two men said how that money was to bo spent. The object of the league was to encourage members to _ send their criticisms and suggestions in.' OTHER LEAGUES SUGGESTED. The following was moved by the president:— “ That this meeting urges the executive to take such steps as it deems necessary to influence the formation of a league in Christchurch and Wellington, so that, in conjunction with those of Auckland and Southland, there may be an effective series of leagues (1) collectively to handle important radio matters affecting listeners with the subsequent purpose of approaching the Minister or the Director of Broadcasting; and (2) specially to endeavour to secure representation for listeners on _ some controlling authority connected with the National Broadcasting Service,” Mr Bardsley said that the most effective manner in which the (leagues could operate would be if they were properly organised in every centre. He asked that the incoming executive be authorised to pursue the matter. If in time five leagues could be linked, they would have a direct influence on the authorities, , The motion was seconded by Mr M. A. Fraser. A Voice: What steps would be taken if the Government chooses to ignore the representations of listeners P Mr Bardsley replied that/ in effect that was what it was doing noiv. The Otago League would have an infinitely better chance if the other suggested leagues were organised, and all would be listened to more intently. . A member pointed out that the inherent weakness of the league Jay in the fact that it was a non-political When the question was asked whether the chairman and secretary were prepared or intended to go north to organise, it Was.stated that the present funds of the league would not allow of that. The proposal would go to the executive, but if the membership continued to increase, then there would he some finances to allow of the proposal being furthered. : Mr J. R. Russell, one of the league’s previous canvassers for new members, said that his 'experience had been that listeners had paid 25s a year license fee and were not prepared to pay a fee to a league, of which they knew very little. There was a short discussion on the question of how the members should be -acquainted regularly with the league’s activities, and the motion was finally carried. OFFICE-BEARERS. When Mr Bardsley was nominated to fill the position of president for a further term, he repeated his previous announcement that he was not prepared,* for personal reasons, to accept the office. As no other nominee would accept office, it was suggested that the retiring president should accept the position for three months, the secretary to find another during that time to fill his place. Mr Bardsley agreed to re-election on that condition. The remaining office-bearers were elected as follow: —Vice-president, Mr W. J. Lovell; executive—Messrs T. Ruddiman, J. B. M'Connell, R. Strong, A 1 E. • Greenway, J. D. M'Ewen, J. B. Bell, M. A. Fraser, J. Ruxton, C. E. Tyrrell, H. Begg, G. S. Paxton, and Mrs J. P. Northey; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. Booth. It was decided to place on record appreciation of the service rendered to the league by Messrs Bardsley and Booth, neither of whom had received any remuneration.