NEW RADIO STATION

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1937, Page 4

NEW RADIO STATION

TWO MODERN ONES

Southland and Hawke’s Bay

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, June 14. 1 In pursuance of the Government s policy to give; an adequate broadcast- ; ing service 'throughout the Dominion, further modern stations are to be erected, staged the Acting-Minister-in-ChaTge of Broadcasting to-night. After investigation, it has been decided to attend to Ithe Southland_ and Hawke’s Bay areas first, and, m a few days, tenders are being called for transmitters to .serve those; 'two dis triclts. Neither the exact positions of the 1 'transmitters, nor their power, can be decided until the completion o< suitable, tests. Hon Mr) Jones added thait, frpm calculations,, based- on the general data available, however, it is thought that power of the order of five kilowatts will be necessary alt each station in order to give a field strength suffncient to overcome the normal noise level. The length of time which will elapse ' between the calling of the tenders and ’ the completion of th e stations cannot ,! be given at present, but every effoi t - will be made to expedite matters. L Hon P. Fraser

ON B STATION ISSUE- ' AUCKLAND, June 14- . ‘ Hon P- Fraser, Acting-Prime Min- ( is'ter, received a deputation from the B Stations Protection Committee. The ( deputation placed before the Minister resolutions of the meeting in the , Town Hall on Thursday night. It protested against restrictions on further broadcasts dealing with 'the controversy and recommended a policy for B stations. It suggested State allocations for maintaining B stations, these to-be adequate; protection for all B stations; a council for listeners to control funds raised from listeners, and to recommend B licenses; and cessation of purchases of B stations“We want to guarantee freedom of • expression,” said Mr Fraser, “but we do not want to create a monopoly for

a few people in a few favoured portions. We do no't priopose to allow the air Ito) be used by monopolists who are tiding to create a ramp for a certain class of station-” "Some of these B stations may be popular ” the Minister concluded, “but I doubt whether 1 it is a lasting popularity. Whether a station is popular or not, that will not affee't the Government in carrying out the pokey which it believes to b e correct- The Government has declared. its policy, and it has 'the responsibility for that policy between elections- I see that some people in Auckland have bee ll sending cable messages on the matter to the Prime Minister in London. A I can say to tha't is that I think the cable company can be congratulated on an accession to its funds-” Mr W. W. Bogers said B stations were being forced to sell to the ernment“You were a member of the^ deputation which waited on the Government in Wellington,” said Mr Frasei to Mr Bogers, “and you heard me say that Ithe promise given by tin Prime Minister would be adhered to and honoured. I also said that the Government was 'the custodian of pu lie money, and that before B stations could be subsidised it would be necessary to consider duplication of services in particular districts- We are not compelling you to sell, but there is a danger of control being acquired bv a few wealthy people. Stations may be controlled by an association of newspapers/ jus’t as your station t controlled. A number of stations hav been sold willingly to the Governmen ,but Mr Savage’s statement that B stations will be allowed to live with a fair subsidy still holds good. They can only live in two ways—either y revenue from advertising or by grants. Advertising is no longer feas ible and 1 quite admit that there a strong aesthetic case'against it- Accordingly, it is quite obvious that h other method must be considered. It & said that there are too many stations in some parts of the country- W e are prepared to pay a fair valuation even fori redundant stations, but toi those which want to remain the Prime Minister’s promise covers byway -MjS- »«£ also some B stations winch aie Hag rantly (breaking the law on advertising They are using listeners and others interested to build up a ramp so they can get an unduly high price for tWr stations. The Governmen will certainly deal with these niatteis but it has not departed from its po lcy as declared alt the last election.”