RADIO POLICY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 2

RADIO POLICY.

CONTROL OF B STATIONS. PURCHASE BY STATE. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, July 2. A declaration that the Government’s object was 'o assume tin i-m trol of all B stations was made by the Prime Minister (lit. Hon. M. J. Savage) to-day. Speaking as Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Savage added that there was no intention on the part of the Government to inflict any injustice upon the owners of the stations and it was the Government’s desire to do the fair tilings h.v the owners. He made it clear that he would have no objection to resorting to arbitration in the event of the price fixed by the Government valuers not being acceptable to the owners, but he pointed out that in the event of arbitration he would brook no delay. “We do not want any stonewalling,” he said.

Mr Savage said that it was the intention of the Government to meet the owners of the B stations with a view to making satisfactory arrangements. “We must have valuation of the plant,” lie said, “but in addition to that wet must also have valuation of the service which the station gives. We have no intention of being mean or doing an injustice. ’ At the same time we cannot lie over-generous with other peoples’ money. If a station objects to the Government purchasing it then all the facts will be taken into consideration in arranging the subsidy to be paid.” Mr Savage said that the reason for wanting to take over all the stations was the Government’s desire to have the whole of the broadcasting services of New Zealand nationalised. “We are not dealing with the listeners but with the proprietors,” lie said. “The proprietors should have the ear of the listeners and should know what they want. We have always- said that the B stations should be allowed to live, and that meant either by subsidv or l>eing allowed to advertise. We want to purchase all the B stations, if wo can, but wo don’t want to force them into that position. If they don’t want to sell they will be subsidised for the service they give.”