BROADCASTING POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1936, Page 7

BROADCASTING POLICY

DEBATE IN HOUSE “SET IN EVERY HOME” [PER PRESS ASSbCIATION.] WELLINGTON, April 16. The House, to-day, discussed the annual report of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board. Mr. Lee said that if ever a Government failed the people in regard to social service, it was the Opposition when it was the Government, concerning broadcasting. That Government said broadcasting should be non-controversial and then on the instruction of the late Minister, they hawked a spare set round New Zealand to ensure that broadcasting should be controversial and no satisfactory explanation had yet been forthcoming from the then Minister. He thought it might be advisable, in the meantime, that the Government should not declare any set policy, but should try an experiment or two, and retain tne. right,to step in at any moment in the national interest. The Government, would, however, see that the Minister, and not the Board, was responsible for the broadcasting service. Mr. Clyde Carr thought the Board had given rather a better account of itself than previously, but he would not say it had justified its existence. He said it was not correct that the best musical talent that New Zealand could produce had been availed of by the Board. He doubted if the best musical talent would make itself available under the present conditions imposed by the Board. Mr. Smith said that the fact that the number of licenses had increased all over the Dominion, showed there was growing interest in broadcasting in New Zealand. He did not believe in advertising over the air, but did appreciate sponsored programmes. He regretted the Government had not yet made known its policy concerning broadcasting. All che talking of jamming was political propaganda, and it had had its effect in Auckland. No /one would make him believe Mr. Hamilton would ever be guilty of a dishonest act, or take unfair advantage. The Speaker, said there had been no suggestion that any member had been guilty of a dishonest act, or he would have checked it at once. , Mr. Smith said he wanted the Government to help B stations more than they had been helped in the past, and to keep broadcasting free from political control. Mr. Atmore suggested that Parliament should have its own broadcasting station so that all members could be heard by their constituents. He advocated a further reduction in license fees by at least five shillings, and urged special consideration' for amateur transmitters, and also that greater attention be paid to short wave.

REDUCTION OF FEES Mr. Jones said he was quite prepared to take the matter of reduction of amateurs’ fees up with the Board. He had had repeated representations > made to him regarding the establishment of a short wave station in New Zealand, and he thought it would be valuable to the Dominion, and the programmes which it could broadcast be acceptable in other countries. r l he Government was out to give service as . far as broadcasting was concerned, and it was anxious to bring service into homes as fai' as it possibly could. He thought encouragement should be given to local talent, and . said the Board was also endeavouring to encourage New Zealand composers, so the Board was progressing on the right lines, and he hoped to see it continue on those lines. The Government did not want to get rid of B stations, which had done much valuable pioneering work, and the Government would give them every consideration. The election promises would be carried out. Mr. Savage said the people were entitled to know what was happening in their own country, and .what the newspapers refused to give, the radio stations would give. The B stations would live but whether they would advertise, or would be subsidised, had not been decided. Broadcasting was the most up-to-date means of publicity and it would be developed. He recognised that certain vested . inter-' terests were concerned who did not want listeners to hear advertising, but did not object to them reading them in newspapers. New Zealand wanted to keep in touch with modern thought, and exchange Opinions with other countries, and if it could be done by broadcasting, it would be done. He agreed that Parliamentary broadcasting should not be restricted to two or three speakers, but the Government desired to start carefully without unduly affecting listeners, who desired to listen to music or other things. The new station in Wellington would probably assist in developing Parliamentary broadcasting. The Government was not going to stand where it was, but -was going on, and he was looking forward to the time when there would be a receiving set in every home. Mr. Tirikatene supported the suggestion that lectures on Maori subjects should be broadcast, and said that advertising as carried out by Australian stations was very amusing. Mr. Coates said he knew nothing about the jamming of the Friendly Road Station, and any suggestion made that he knew all about it was - entirely wrong. The motion was talked out.