BROADCASTING

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1937, Page 8

BROADCASTING

MINISTER'S STATEMENT DUNEDIN, June 8. ' The Acting-Minisler el Broadcasting, till' lion F, Jones, issues the. lot lowing statement: That broadcasting is truly a “community service” is evidenced by the fact Uiat in New Zealand, alone there are nearly a quarter of a million radio receiving licenses in operation, and I feel that I would be sale in expressing the opinion that during some time of the day or night- not less than three, quarters of a million of the population listen to a part or the whole of a programme transmitted from one oi our own stations or from abroad. With so nuiuy po 'ple affected by bro-adcasi iug it is not d.fficuit to conclude that there are thousands who consider they could manage this service better than it is ! being conducted to-day, and who so far as tlieir personal likes are concerned, know how prog ran lines could he improved. Seeing that it, would, he impossible to get unanimity of opinion on these two points alone; .and. lifiying regard to the fact, that the cost of the service falls on the public generally, at is the opinion of the Government that its management, ~oiild be in the hands ot the people’s representatives. Tn different parts of the Dominion efforts are being made to stir up agitation over B class stations and from some of the statements that are being •made it.is obvious that, an endeavour is being made to create a wrong ini pres--. s ; -nn in the mi"ds of the pooide. At the outset I wish it to ho definitely known that id the uegoiiations that an' at present preceding,- if u”v owner of a B station is not prepared to sell out to the Government, ho compulsion wil 1 be exercised and be will be, .permitted to continue to operate.it- heretofore. After the' present Government Dtk offi"o rind had had n’i opportunity of considering broadcasting in -all Rs i"tricato and varying phases, it decided tha* radio advertising should be under iG contrdl. This decision was reached as a result of uvostigatio P s disclosing what was oofurrng in other cotinir e'where advertising o"er the air was in the hands of powerful syndicates and companies which reaped the protits.

It was thought that whatever rovem no was forthcoming from tins source in'the Dominion should he retained by the State for the benefit of listeners There w'll he few people who do not agree with this decision. As the action of the Government in this matter prevented the inclusion of advertising matter in programmes transmitted from •' stations, ito was considered to bo «ni.* fair to afford the owners an opportunity of selling- their stations to the Government- if they were willing so to- do. Tt is interesting to recall at this etn?f» t'-b.ni• o-o exception, was taken by them when the announcement to this effect was made The first action that was taken to this end was the apnnintnv'iit of two capable valuers to visit, each station and prapare a valuation, ami agino., nu expect ion was taken by the o-riors to this proceedure. After the whole of the valuations were received and considered ah offer *o purchase was,made t oall Some of fcliom agreed to- accept V*v rn’ice offered, while some owners attended a conference convened in Wellington, before committing themselves, Most of those who attended that conference subsequently interviewed me. t was informed that there was a unanimous -desire on the part, of B station owners to sell, but that some were not- prepared to accept the price offered bv the Government. Altho’odi T would like to point out that-in almost every instance the amount offered was in excess of the '■valuation', an extension, of time in 'which to further consider the matter was tasked, for. and grafted, ana furthermore-ah assurance was given that the Government would be agreeable to negotiate for the purpose of arriving at a, price that could he considered reasonable and that would be mutually acceptable. Moreover, a definite promise was given that in the event of a settlement not being reached by negotiation. T would arrange for the cases to be submitted to arbitration. Tt is estimated that nothing could, be fairer than that. Already arrangements have been completed for the (purchase of 8 stations and negotiations are still in progress in respect of a number ot others. When .finality is reached in the present proceedings the Government will then consider and decide the rniestion of subsidies. It is appreciated that some of the B stations that are being purchased are established in localities which are remote from the main centres and where the reception provided bv existing national stations b not first class. Tn such cases it i« intended to continue the nneratiou of local station until such time as a better service can be provided. A Doint that cannot he over emphasised is that had it not been for the action of the Government in coming to their rescue, practically all of the Tt stations in the Dominion would have been forced to close down. This will be apparent when T point out that every B station owner was faced with a legitimate demand for payment of copyright and for the right to broadcast gramophone records. Of the 21 B stations in New Zealand only four owners have advised the Government that they rre not prepared to sell, so it will he seen that with these exceptions* practically everv station owner is willing to sell, provided he can cret his own price. Ever since tlie holding of the conference of R station owners to which T have already alluded, several of them have gone nut of their nay allow statements to he broadcast from their studios r.Ro?irm that the Government has not carried out us promite T am inclined to think th.it in cr.rr.e insianess. this n bein’ dorm ctr the purpgc-e cf endeavouring tc

squeeze more money out of the Government for their particular stations. Others again have been allowing both direct and indirect advertising matter to bo transmitted and for this there arc substantial • grounds for believing that they have been receiving payment.

It was only comparatively recently, however-, that it was brought to my ■knowledge that advertising was being indulged in by some B stations. NTow every licensee of a broadcasting station is fully aware' of the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, passed last session and it is obvious that those who arc permitting the transmission of advertising matter are intentionally. vohiting the law. Perhaps it would be as well to quote the Art oil the subject. Section 1 1 finally lays it down that no programme, or parti of a- programme, intended to serve as an advertisement for the primary benefit of anv person, shall be transmitted from any broad-casting station, whether operated tn-* the Minister or any other person. The sectvvn goes on to say that the MinisW may from time to time establish’and operate commercial broadcasting station's from which programmes that include advertising . matter may be transmitted.

A continuance of what lias Veen taking nhice will not be longer permitted by the Government, and immediate "cfion will he taken to strictly enforce the provisions of the Broadcasting Art in regard to the transmission of advertising matter. In view also of the utter disregard of certain other n«-ov-isious of tlie law that has been shown—"fid st’ll is being disnh’yed by some station owners—it is piooosed to carry out the terms of section 15 ot the Broadcasting Act of last year.

1 This 'gives the Minister power to Supervise all pup-grammes to by tni'smitted from/ private broadcasting. stations and authorise- him to prohibit nit her absolutely or.subject to such conditions as lie $ infos fit. the tranoiii.-/-pi on from any ,-broa fleas ting station 01 nrv programme or part of a programme •whir 1 *- in liis opinion is unsuitable for broadcasting. This particular section also provides for the cancellation of the license of any station v’J’irh fails to comply with any prohibit'!'ui or condition that may lie impo'-eef with respect to its programme, or foV the tak’dir of anv other action considered nec-s-’rv for the purpose if ,com-elia-nee with any such, prohibition or condition. Tn conclusion, T wish it to he distinctly understood that T am not unmindful of the fact that the attitude of the groat majority of the B station owners has been fair and reasonable, and this is appreciated, but there are some who are endeavouring to harass the Government in order to achieve their own ends, and they are being actively assisted by individuals and organisations which I am incline,i to think, are so acting not so mm-h in the interests of listeners as a whole, as for reasons-,of their own.