BRADCASTING CONTROL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 7 March 1935, Page 7

BRADCASTING CONTROL

FOLLOWING 8.8. C. POLICY VIEWS ON CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS POSITION OF B STATIONS. (By Tel«Rrapb—Frew Association.) WELLINGTON, March C. The second reading of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was taken in the House of Representatives to-niglit. The Hon. Adam Hamilton in moving the second reading traced broadcasting progress in New Zealand and said the present Broadcasting Board had been in existence three years. The board’s advisory council had done good work. There had been objections, but there were many technical difficulties. In the present Bill the advisory council was being abolished.

The board had to blaze the trail for broadcasting in New Zealand, and broadcasting had been increasing largely in recent years. Since 1930 the number of listeners had risen from 53,000 to 145,000 at the end of January, 1935. The policy the Government was endeavouring to follow was the policy of the British Broadcasting Corporation. They had not been able to follow it fully as there were a. number of B stations in New Zealand, whereas there were none in England. The British system was recognised as the best, and the whole income there came from listeners’ fees. New Zealand would follow that. He believed if America and Australia could get back to the British system they would do so. The board of control in Britain had full control of broadcasting. It had five members who were engaged full-time. The second way of following Britain was to provide a national service in New Zealand. All listeners’ fees would go to the board, which was still in debt to the Post and Telegraph Department but was paying off the debt steadily. Provision would be made for the discussion of political subjects over the air. The board would also be responsible for wliat went over the air and not the P. and T. Department as previously. New Zealand could not follow Britain as regards B stations, but the B stations would receive no revenue. Their licenses, however, wouTO not be taken .away.

MORE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL. The board would be increased from three to seven as considerable power was being .placed in the hands of the board and as wide representation as possible was desired. It was believed this would give more democratic control/and with the larger board there would be no need for the advisory council.

The control of controversial matter would be placed in the hands of the board. The present regulations regarding such matter would be withdrawn and the board would be given a free hand. The board could still subsidise B stations if it wished, but the hours of B stations and their strength could not be increased. The Government retained licensing authority and control of the wave-length. The purpose of broadcasting was to give good service, and there was no need for too many stations. There were a number of representations to be made and he would be pleased to consider suggestions.

Mr E. 'J. Howard (Labour, Christchurch South) said the Bill would mean the end of the B stations. He thought they were followin "England too slavishly as New Zealand conditions were very different. If a 60 kilowatt station was to be established at Wellington no set in New Zealand would be able to receive outside stations until the Wellington station was off the air. He urged that the dying board should not be permitted to enter into a contract to erect such a large station when the new board might review the whole position. He thought there was something behind the establishment of such a powerful station.

Mr Howard said the weakness of the Bill was that no provision had been made for the election of board members. He considered the Minister had no right to appoint the board. He thought there should be one board for the North Island and another for the South Island, as the problems of the two islands were totally different. The Bill did, however, make an improvement on the old' service.

The debate was adjourned and the House rose at 11.25 p.m.