DEMANDED PROVISION FOR B STATIONS

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1937, Page 9

DEMANDED PROVISION FOR B STATIONS

Big Auckland Meeting Opposes Nationalisation

[Special \to “Northern Advocate”l AUCKLAND, This Day. The following resolution was passed at the conclusion of a meeting in the Town Hall last night called by the 3 Stations Protection Committee: —

“That this representative meeting of the citizens of Auckland calls upon the Government to make full provision for B class radio stations, which is in accordance with its declared policy when elected, and which is necessary for their autonomy and continued efficiency.”

The need for continued Government financial assistance for the was urged, and the Acting-Minister of Broadcasting, Hon. F. Jones, was criticised for withholding permission to broadcast the meeting. There was an attendance of about 2000, presided over by Professor W. Anderson. Messages From All Over N.Z.

Many messages favourable to the objects of the meeting were received by the chairman, who: said he was pleased to read the messages, because Mr Jones had stated that the persons engaged In the protest movement were in for reasons of their own’. The messages had come from many parts of New Zealand.

He criticised Mr Jones for withholding permission to broadcast the meeting. For the first time in the history of broadcasting in New Zealand, the B stations had: been placed under the control of the department.

Previously they had corresponded with the Minister, hut now they were to be administered arid controlled by the State system. Non-Political.

The object of the meeting, he added, was to gain an expression of opinion from the listening public. The meeting was non-political and nonparty. ' ; . After he had settled with those B station - owners who were willing to sell their stations to the Government, Mr Jones was going into the question of subsidies, said Professor Anderson. He asked if the remaining stations would have an opportunity to remain B stations in the full'sense of the word. The speaker gave a denial that State control was the only solution of the differences of opinion about station management and progress.

Thin Edge of the Wedge. The Rev. W. W. Averill said that listeners were convinced of the Government’s intention to force the nationalisation of B stations, ‘ ’ \: . * • .... ■ ’ , . ••• v ’ - Listeners should oppose nationalisation, because they felt that it was the thin end of , the wedge which would lead to making a State monopoly of the most efficient and popular vehicle of free speech. . Nationalisation should be opposed because of listeners’ appreciation of the service rendered by men who had built up the technique of popular broadcasting.

Other speakers were Mr W. Hindman, sports announcer at IZM Manurewa, Mr H. B. Arthur, president of the United Listeners’ Club, and Mr J. A. C Allum.