THE LISTENERS’ LEAGUE.

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 11

THE LISTENERS’ LEAGUE.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir, —I have supreme contempt for anonymous correspondents _ who shoot from behind screens, and this for a very good reason. As a public body officer I was the victim of anonymous false statements, and some of these when I was thousands of miles away s and I cannot easily forget people of this type. The irony of youf correspondent’s position is that under such a nom de plume ho should attack anybody or any institution. Fancy him hiding behind “Fiat lux,” “Let there be light” Rather I suggest he ought to have signed “ Damnant quod non intelligunt ” he will know what this means. Let him assert—not say “ it is alleged ” —that the new committee is composed largely of noted supporters (giving - their names) of the Labour Government, and I will answer his assertion; only that the best interests of the league shall not be prejudiced. A correspondent signing his name is quite a different proposition, and- warrants my making some explanation. It is proof that Mr A., Rowan was not at the meeting, otherwise _ he would never have made the assertion he does about the non-presentation of a balance sheet. Consequently there cannot bo the reflection on the executive which he throws out. ( > Your correspondent is wrong again over several gentlemen being added to the committee who were not there and without their consent. Out of an executive of 15 only two were absent, but their consent was given. I suggest your correspondent owes the executive a retraction on these two points with respect to the collecting costs, which we simply cannot escape. We shall be delighted if he will evolve some scheme which will cause licensees to call at the office or post their subscription of one shilling. We cannot get them to do this, consequently we must needs send collectors out, and men cannot be expected to canvass a city for nothing. Mr A. Rowan goes on to sav: “ If the Listeners’ League wants to exist it should certainly divorce itself from all persons financially connected with or employed in B stations. otherwise it becomes the ramp for B stations.” Now this is a definite charge, and I ask him to give the full and frank particulars of names and what the financial aspect of his suggestion represents. This will make the position clearer and give one a better chance to deal with the matter. If we have definite proof from A. Rowan that any member of the executive is using

the league for ulterior purposes—i.e., with B station owners—we will soon handle the situation. Of course, your correspondent will concede that the executive must earn their living somewhere. The B station listeners’ (note listeners) interests are ever our care; our one regret is that we have not got several thousands more of them. I wish Mr A. Rowan and 5,000 others would join up with the league, then we could surely proceed to Wellington if this was really necessary and with other leagues demand in the interests of licensees the changes and considerations which are needed. We simply cannot do this on a membership of 700 out of a total of 10,000 licensees in and around Dunedin. We only want what we think is a right, as a right, and not as a favour. If we pay in over £IOO,OOO a year surely w© ought not to be treated as we are being treated. If licensees had manifested the interest that wo think they ought to have done over the past few years the 240,000 payers-in of hard cash would not be played with by the department, as they are now, just as a big tabby cat plays with a baby mouse. It does not come within my province to reply to the other portion of Mr A. Rowan’s letter. As I said at the meeting, we know no politics, and the B stations are not to my knowledge using the league as a “ ramp ”; their owners are quite well able to look after their own station interests.—l am, etc.,

W. J. Babdsley (President Otago Listeners’ League) June 28.