WORK OF PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 September 1925, Page 9

WORK OF PARLIAMENT

DRAWING TO A CLOSE. ■' \ ■ ELECTION MATTERS \ \ . BROADCASTING STATION^. (by TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Sep. 30. The House met at 10.30 a.m.. Replying to questions, Lhe Prime Minister said that facilities would , be given for any electors not yet enrolled to do so before the issue of the writs. It was necessary to have a shqit amendment to the Legislative Act, i>o clear up doubts existing as to the eligibility of candidates to vote in electorates for which they are standing, abe position of hospital patients would be provided lor as fat as possible. ) WIRELESS MATTERS. \ Sir James Parr, Postmaster-General J, made a statement dealing with the broadcasting situation, explaining that 1 , an agreement had been reached between the GoVernment and the broadcasting company. It had 1 been alleged that a monopoly was being created, that the fees charged were too high, gjid that licenses should be controlled by the municipal authorities. It had •been found under the old system that few broadcasting stations were quite ’inadequate to supply satisfactory programmes for listeners-in, and as a. result the Act was passed to provide for the erection of up-to-date broadcasting 'stations. The Government . retained strict control, hut delegated the erection of the stations to the company for |a term not exceeding five years. Lis-iteners-in enjoyed the fullest freedom in [the matter of the purchase of apparatus. The company was required to instal the most up-to-date stations at .Auckland and Christchurch immediately, and later at Wellington and Dunedin. The service had to he in accordance with the rigid requirements laid down, by the Government. The latter collected all fees, paying over a specified proportion to the company. If the company did not fulfil the terms of contract the Government would withhold the payment of its share of the .fees. All persons and' firms interested in broadcasting and wireless were aware that the Government was looking for a strong company to carry on the service. Ten per cent of the company’s shares were at the disposal of the Government. '

Mr Howard, commenting on the Minister’s statement, asked why no tender's had been called for the erection of a broadcasting station. Was it a fact that the company benefited, to the extent of £6O monthly so long as no station was erected at Wellington, and why had no meeting of the hoard been called? Speaking as a licensee of a listening-in set, Mr Howard criticised the low power insisted) Upon at the broadcasting station, and condemned the refusal of permission for the erection of a broadcasting station at Dunedin Exhibition. The Prime Minister said that the fullest information was available to those interested in wireless, so that the formal calling of tenders was unnecessary. A New Zealand syndicate was discussing the contract till the last minute, when it decided to have nothing to do with the contract. The British system had been quoted, but'the fact was that there was no control there such as we desired here.

MOTOR OMNIBUS REGULATIONS. Before the House adjourned for luncheon the Prime Minister made a statement relating to the motor omnibus legislation. The Government had been advised that the most satisfactory method of dealing with the problem would be by regulation under section two of the Board of Trade Act, 1919. Draft regulations would be circulated, so that those interested could criticise them. Their issue would be a warning to prospective promoters of new services that the regulation of competition with public services was being considered, and would curb the present tendency towards speculative undertakings The House adjourned at 1 p.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. The Legislative Council met at 10.3 Q am. The Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill, and; the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill were received from the House of Representatives and read jb vfrr/st and! Jteeoond times. The Deteriorated Lands Bill, Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill, Ashley River Improvement Bill, Harbours Amendment Bill, and the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill were also received from the House and put through all stages and passed without amendment.

Progress 'was reported on the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill After reading the short title the Council adjourned at 12.23 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-dav. .