RADIO LISTENERS

Evening Star, Issue 22817, 27 November 1937, Page 21

RADIO LISTENERS

REDUCTION OF FEE URGED “ TONE ’’ OF COMMERCIAL STATIONS CRITICISED “ Personally I am concerned at the position Professor Shelley occupies,” said Mr W. J. Bardsley, president of the Otago Radio Listeners’ League at the monthly meeting of the executive on Wednesday evening. “ For nearly a whole year wo have been anticipating some changes in the Y system, but the overshadowing influence of the commercial system is causing many to have serious thoughts. I hear frequent complaints about the ‘ tone ’ of items which are being produced from the commercial stations. 1 may say that 1 have listened in to much that is gratifying, hut this class is limited in comparison wth another class. It is pleasing to know, however, that the ZB stations have not descended to the range of the Australian stations with respect to Sunday advertising.” Mr Bardsley said he had hoped to have submitted to the meeting a scrutiny of the official figures in connection with the operations of the National Broadcasting Department. Under the Act the figures and reports ought to have been before Parliament long ero this, and it was quite impossible, on the meagre figures which had appeared, ■ to form any definite opinion about the financial side of the department’s operations further than to say that the department had a very large sum of listeners’ money with which to ‘ juggle.’ Why,, with £342,234 in a reserve fund, it was still necessary for listeners to continue to pay a license fee which this year realised about £300,000, he was at a complete loss to understand. It had been suggested by the Minister that there was heavy expenditure ahead, but when it was remembered that during the past three years licensees had paid in between £600,000 and £700,000 for Y station services, what did they see for the difference between those figures and the reserves? In connection with the accounts, said Mr Bardsley, under Section 18 of the Broadcasting Act of last year a report and statement of accounts were required to be prepared for Parliament within three months after • the end of the financial year and presented to Parliament within 14 days after Parliament sat. The end of the financial year was March 31, and the Minister made known some of his figures only last week. „ ,

It was hoped, continued Mr Bardsley, that this belated presentation would not be in evidence again next year, for he was convinced from the frequent opinions which came to him that the matter of radio generally and radio licenses in particular would play an important part in the next election campaign unless the powers that be in the meantime gave ‘listeners more favourable consideration and some measure of redress. He was a little uncertain of the ground on which they stood with respect to the commercial broadcasting system, for the simple reason that it had not been possible to ascertain whether the moneys from license fees were being “ sponged ” upon to provide the large capital costs for that system. According to a statement that had appeared in the Press they would soon he enabled to more accurately size up the position. Mr Bardsley said it was pleasing to note that tlie Prime Minister] had hinted at a reduction of the license fee. ... There should he no need for a fee of £1 5s with a surplus of £94,519 and a reserve of £342,234. There surely could be no two opinions about that. Another matter which required to be kept prominent was that of a cheaper programme booklet. From what had been stated they had good hopes that such a publication would be issued, and he suggested that the secretary be authorised to write to the Minister reminding him of the matter. It appeared that listeners were in sympathy with the league in its aims, for in a short period the membership had risen from 100 to 5,000 ; and he suggested that that must seriously influence the responsibility of the executive. He trusted that they would continue assiduously to press their various claims_ on the Minister. During the course of the meeting members expressed their pleasure at again seeing Mr Bardsley in the chair after his long illness, and eulogised his services to the league. Correspondence was received from the Christchurch Executive and the Otago Electric Power Board 1 regarding interference at Balclutha. It was reported that since the last meeting 330 members had been enrolled and that the total was now 5,072. The league’s engineer reported that he had visited Balclutha, and as a result of his investigations he recommended that the radio inspector be asked to visit the district to locate the interference of which there was definite evidence. The Otago Electric Power Board had written suggesting that the league advise the radio inspector, and stated that it would take immediate stops to clear up any trouble upon detection. The Secretary reported that he_ hoped in the very near future to organise the Oamaru district, but it was decided to leave this campaign until after the Christmas holidays. The matter of reduction of license fees and also the cheaper programmes was discussed, and the secretary was instructed to again bring these matters before the Minister. The executive was very desirous of meeting Professor Shelley, and it was decided to write to him asking for an interview on his next visit to Dunedin.