RADIO STATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 7

RADIO STATIONS.

AND SPONSORED PROGRAMMES. BENEFIT OF EXPERIENCE. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, March 14. The future of B class radio stations loomed largo in the preliminary discussion before the Broadcasting Bill clauses were dealt with in Committee by the House' of Representatives tonight, and the Postmaster-Genera} (Hon. A. Hamilton) devoted some attention to this class of criticism. When a Christchurch member, who had asked what the B stations would live on, made the suggestion that they be allowed to transmit sponsored programmes, the Minister declared that if the member had had experience of these things he would realise the difficulty. It entitled the broadcaster to say that the programme was provided’ by a particular individual of a particular address, but gradually this had extended until the announcement included that he was selling shirts or something. “Where is it going to start and where will it end?” asked the Minister. If it was the Government’s policy to commercialise the air that would be all right, “but we don’t want the American or Australian system to creep .in, and if I allowed it I would be failing in my duty.” “Surely,” suggested Mr D. G. Builtvan, “the wording could be prescribed.” “We would have no end of trouble replied the Aliniister. “When sponsored programmes were allowed they were always extending the announcement. He* pointed out that the board was subsidising seven or eiglit B stations to secure good coverage. “Why not let them advertise? asked Rev. C. Carr. “I don’t think any member of the House would vote for it .if he had experience of radio advertising,” replied the Minister, while Dir A. E. Jull reinforced the point by declaring; \\e are trying to keep advertising oil the roads; keep it off the air.”