STATE BROADCAST POLICY

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 2 December 1933, Page 9

STATE BROADCAST POLICY

EXPLANATION BY MINISTER ANSWER TO DEPUTATION. (By Telegrapn—rress Association.J WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. A request that the Government should reconsider its policy regarding B class radio stations and that 2ZW, Wellington, should not be closed down, was made to the Postmaster-General, Hon. A. Hamilton to-day, by a. deputation from the 2ZW Radio Lis tellers Club.

The Minister said tho Government had only one intention. That was to do the right thing for broadcasting in New Zealand. Listeners only saw one side of the picture and the public did not always Know as much as the responsible authorities knew. After all broadcasting was a. very technical service and it might be easy to jam the air There were already 34 stations in New Zealand and it was possible that the B class stations might not be able to continue to give the service they had given in the past. The Broadcasting Board secured revenue from licensed listeners only and the service was given which was second to none in the world. “Wb want to lay the foundation of broadcasting in New Zealand correctly now,” he said. “We are coming to the parting of the ways and I want your help as much as von, want to help me.” He thought that broadcasting in Australia and America was out of hand, both as tar as advertising and propaganda were concerned and although he did not want the Government to be unpopular it must do the right thing. He gave an undertaking that the deputation’s, request would be looked into.