B STATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1937, Page 3

B STATIONS

REQUEST TO’ BROADCAST(Pet Press Association—Copyright). DUNEDIN, June 10. * Apropos of the Auckland request for permission 'to 1 broadcast a mass meeting on the lil Cufe : i)f jj stations, F. Joncii stated this morning that iolImving an Auekla'iid telegram tliat a summary of speeches had been forwarded by air .ni,ail; the lettersarrived containing / merely the list of), speakers* with the information that the speakers had given tfie. gist of their speeches in a fowl.word/i. but could give nothing further as they, did not use notes, -yu assurance''.Was given that tiie speakers would eblifine themselves to the B station issue; merely voicing the opinion that stations should b(i guaranteed further assistance and allowed to live as declared in the Government's election pledges. So far, the Minister has not received copies of the speeches as required, and until lie! does, the matter cannot bo carried further. ! B. STATION 3ZM; < G OVERNMENT NEGOTIATE FOR PURCHASE. CHRISTCHURCH, June TO'.' Negotiations for the purchase by the Government.,; of the Christchurch B Class radio-station, 3ZM are almost complete. The paid' by the Government is ’ M;2p2’ 'IS-s' /Stf, but a formal agreement between the parties has still to' be signed. This was .intimated to-day by the Postmaster-General (Hon. F. Jones) in a telephone conversation . with a newspaper reporter. The owners of the station are Mr IV'. J. Green,, formerly of Christchurch, but now the editor of the “Standard,’’ the Labour Party’s newspaper, published ja Wellington ; Mr J. Younger, Christchurch; and Air C. G. Clark, of Christchurch. ’Title licensee for the station.is held-by Mr Green and Mr Younger. The negotiations with the Postmaster-General were carried out by Mr Green on behalf of his partners. The Postmaster-General said he was unable to. say when the station would go off the air, STATE AID REQUESTED. AHQIvLAND. June 10. An emphatic '-protest aeainst nationalisation, of B.,class radio stations was made by spqak,ers..at a public meeting in the Town..,*Hall to-nHht, called by the B, Stations Protection Committee. . ! - -' i

The need for continued Government f financial assistance for B. stations was urged. Criticism was levelled at the Act-ing-Minister of Broadcasting Air Jones, for withholding permission 'to broadcast the meeting. ' *1 * Professor Anderson “-presided over an attendance of about 2000. The meeting; was of an enthusiastic characer. and the speeches ; were interspersed with rounds of applause,, v Interjections, which were mainly good natured, occasionally interrupted the speakers. At the conclusion the following resolution was. passed,. a. small; section dissenting:,' “That representative meeting of citizens oij, Auckland calls upon the, Government, to inake full , provision for B class radio rotations, “which is in aceordahee ui.lr Hs declared, policy, when elected, and which is necessary for their autonomy and continued -efficiency.”' .&¥i