CHEAPER RADIO SETS

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1936, Page 3

CHEAPER RADIO SETS

GOVERNMENT OBJECTIVE. (Per Pre°s Association.) WELLINGTON, June 15. Possible Government action, in cooperation with the manufacturers, to bring about a reduction in the price of radio receiving sets was suggested by the Postmaster-General (the lion. F. Jones) in an Jnterviuw. Mr Jones also indicated that a subcommittee of the Cabinet had been set up to deal with the details of broadcasting policy, preparatory to the assumption by the Government of the control of the broadcasting system. Mr Jones said, "there are 200.000 homes in New Zealand without radio sets. Our aim is to bring the benefits of broadcasting into those homes as soon as possible. The price represents a barrier to many people who would .normally like to own w. radio set. lhe same position has arisen in Britain, and the British Broadcasting Corporation has been investigating a scheme in Germany whereby the German Goveminent and nvanufucturers have cooperated'in the production of a cheap but efficient standard of set. Mr Jones said that officers of his department had recently' keen experimenting with the design and construction of a possible standard set. The Government hoped to be able to find out at what cost such a sot could economically bo produced, and then it would probably be prepared to enter into negotiations with manufacturers in New Zealand in an endeavour to put the standard set on the market. Much had to be done in preparing for full state ownership of the broadcasting system in New Zealand, and very little time remained before the Broadcasting Act came into operation on July Ist. In consequence, there was not likely to be any change with B stations until after that date. The basis for the payment ot subsidies to B stations would also have

to be settled. U.S.A. Broadcasting HIGH EFFICIENCY. SAYS AUSTRALIAN tnvestlg-ator.

(Received June 16, at 8 p.m.) , NEW YORK. June 15. Mr Bearup, who is a member of the ’ Australian Broadcasting Comm'ssion. following on a study he has made of American conditions, has informed the Australian Associated Press that three

aspects of the broadcasting in the United States are particularly impressive. These arc: (1) The unremitting effort to make educational programmes and even charitable appeals entertainment first; (2): the care and expense lavished on the acoustical facilities at the studios; and finally the high technical proficiency of the broadcasting transmiss'on. Following on <’i fortnight’s stay in Nmv York, Mr Bearup will proceed to 'Europe to continue his enquiries.