BROADCAST BAN

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1933, Page 6

BROADCAST BAN

SYDNEY CHORAL SOCIETIES,

PROGRAMMES' CRITICISED

SYDNEY, March 4

The Australian broadcasting Commission has delivered an ultimatum to the choral societies in Sydney whose performances it has been in the habit of relaying throughout the national network of stations. The commission has told; them that until they improve the standard of tlieir performances tliey. will' not again be put over tiie ajr.. If the societies care to put their houses in order, as it were, tlie commission will -be prepared to consider their claims, but until there is a substantial improvement the concerts Avill not' be broadcast.

Altogether five/ organisation in Sydney cbine under the ban, and as they relied on tlieir broadcast fees to a very large extent .their future is in jeopardy. They may even go out of existence, for the support given to them by the public in the way of attendances is not likely to be sufficient to enble them to carry on. The deficiency in cliofal music in the broadcast programme will’ be filled by the commission itself, which is now organising a choir on an elaborate scale. The action of the commission lias caused an outcry among the societies, but the commission appears to bo adamant; and claims that it has a definite duty to’ the public-. That duty is said to be tlie pfovi'siftn of programmes of a high standard. Of . cpmse, the commission endeavours to cater for all tastes, and the whole of its programmes are not of a “highbroAv” character. The commission S *'iys it” believes, however, that if it promises the public a programme of clioral music, that programme must bf of the very best. Ttt an official statement it is said that the standard of the various c.hoirs in Sydney’is lamentably low, and for that reason they will not recei\ r e any fifriher’ engagements. It is not a question of policy, but of keeping faifh. 1 with tlie listeners. The commission says it will consider every application on its merits, but all the societies concerned can rest assured that they will not be over the air until their standard is considerably higher than it is at present.

Even tlie choir of the Odnservatorium has come under the ban. The Royal Apollo Club and the Welsh Male Choi r are others affected. Officers of these concerns express regret at the action of the commission, and say that the commission should subsidise the societies and so imprm© the standard in that way. The commission has repljed that it has. already been subsidising, them by paying them for the broadeasts, but that the contributions have not stemmed the tide of deterioration.