B RADIO STATIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 155, 2 June 1937, Page 11

B RADIO STATIONS

STATE CONTROL ISSUE. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEWS “State control of anything is bad enough, but State control of radio lias to be opposed,” said Mr F. G. Opie, speaking at a meeting of the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce, last evening, when it was decided to support the Mayor (Mr A- E- Mansford) in representations to the Government that the protection enjoyed by B class radio Stations for the copyright on records be continued.

“Several enquiries have been made as to what action this chamber is taking,” said the secretary (Mr S. I. McKenzie). “I have been informed that prior to the last elections the station ow-ners were given an assurance that they would be allowed to carry oil and that they would be protected in regard to the copyright on records. Since the Government’s recent announcement the 'Mayor has been in touch with the Government, requesting that the local stations should be permitted to continue as before and further requesting protection regarding copyright. It has been suggested that this chamber should support the Mayor in the action lie has taken to protect the local stations.”

There had been a suggestion that if the stations -would not sell to the Government voluntarily they would be compulsorily taken over, said Mr Opie. He thought that should be opposed “tooth and nail.” The Government should not control even one radio station.

The chairman (Mr A. J. Graham) Wliat would they use them for?

Mr Opie said the stations might be used for anything. It was certainly against the /best interests of the Country for the Government to have a monopblistic control of the Dominion’s radio. Mr H. B. Free pointed Cut that even if the B class stations did fiot sell to the Government the withdrawal of concessions as to the copyright fees for the playing of records would automatically put the B stations off the air because they could not- afford to pay the fees. It had been suggested that this would happen. “There is no doubt about it that the B stations are doing very valuable work,” remarked the chairman (Mr A. J. Graham). On the motion of Mr Opie, seconded by Mr H. E. Edmunds, it was decided to support the Mayor in the action he had taken.