RADIO CONTROL in Government Hands

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 150, 10 June 1936, Page 7

RADIO CONTROL in Government Hands

BILL DEBATED Minister Reviews Labour’s Proposals OPPOSITION VIEWS By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, June 9. Moving the second reading of the Broadcasting Bill in the House of Representatives to-night, the Hon. F. Jones thanked all who had for. warded suggestions to him. Before the Bill was introduced he had out lined the proposals to members of the Broadcasting Board, who naturally did not agree with some of the proposals. He paid a tribute to members of the Broadcasting Board and said that the thanks of the people were due to them for their services. The Government felt that the broadcasting service should he under the control of the Govern, ment. Broadcasting, lie added, had increased tremendously in recent years. In 1924 the number of licensees was 2830; today they numbered 192,265, and there was plenty of room for expansion. It was only right that responsibility and control should be vested in the Government, as the service was such an im. portant one. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Nat., Waitomo) raised a point of order about members reading their speeches. Mr Jones said he was not reading his speech. Mr Broadfoot: I accept the Minister’s word. Mr Junes, referring to B stations, said that the Government had always expressed the opinion that B stations should be allowed to live, and as they had done pioneering work they were entitled to all the consideration the Government could give them. Some B stations would bo disappointed at not being allowed to advertise, and ths Government was not prepared to give them advertising. They would hear much about the interests of newspapers, but newspaper proprietors could look after themselves. In all, Cl applications had been re. ceived from organisations for B-station licences, and those included applica. tious from Newspapers, Ltd., Christchurch, National Magazines, the “Bay of Plenty Press” and “Point Blank.” DANGER OF ADVERTISING. Mr Jones quoted the opinion of Mr R. A. Parkhill, Australian Minister of Defence, on the danger of advertising over the air by private enterprise such as newspapers. He said that there would be opposition to advertising, but when people went to picture-theatres they had to watch advertisements on the screen. He thought that there was a demand for advertising in America, but the Government did not want NewZealand to get into the same position as Australia, and he contended that it could be avoided by Government con trol. Referring to the profits of Australian commercial stations, Mr Jones said tuat one station made a profit of £58,000 and an organisation that wanted to purchase the station offered £90,000 for it. The Government did not want the nows, papers to tell the Government vvnat news it would put over the air, but if necessary the Government would organise an independent news service of its own. Mr Jones outlined the clauses of the Bill and referred to the broadcasting of Parliamentary debates and to Mr Coates’s statement that the Opposition was not getting a fair share of the air. He quoted figures to show that 19 Gov. ernment members, 18 Nationalist? ana eight Independents had spoken ovei the air. He claimed that the Government had given the Opposition very fair treatment. MINISTERIAL CONTROL. Referring to Ministerial control, M Jones quoted the British Commission, which had recommended that control should be in the hands of a Minister of the Crown. Provision had been made for the appointment of a Ministei of Broadcasting, and he though! that was wise. At the end of the year it was hoped to have a strong station near Wellington which would cover the whole of New Zealand, and lie visualised the time when New Zealand would have a short.wave station.

Mr Jones referred to the success of school broadcasting. He said that 550 schools now had facilities for receiving broadcasting and that the number was steadily increasing. The Government would try to further school broadcasting, and he was sure that they would bo able to show some results in the, next year. Dealing with programmes, Mr Jone,-, said that the Government intended to supply the best possible programmes. There was room for expansion and the aim of the Government was to get e radio net into every home. In England and Germany efforts w-ere being made to make a good set at a low price, aud if the Government could co-opeiatc with manufacturers they would do tne best they could. Coming to royalties, M; Jones said that the charge was 3/6 a varve socke : in New Zealand. Ln Germany it was 1/6, and the Government was investigating the position to see whether it was right that such a charge should tie made. The Rev. Clyde Carr (Govt., Tiniaru) said they Were in a new age. Progress must bo made by progress by trial and error I’he Government was going to put into operation something with youth, and there was need for a new outlook. He said that there was no need lor Ihe Opposition to tear that it would not be given the opportunity io put its case over the air. He trusted that the men to be appointed to advise the Government would be men of breadth of outlook and with a knowledge of matters that would be broadcast. Men of judgment would and could weigh the pros and eons with wisdom and sympathy. The present members of the board were not chosen for their knowledge of broadcasting. He claimed that advertising could ho verv enrefullv and skilfully dine.