Want Radio Licence Fee Reduced

Northern Advocate, 5 September 1941, Page 6

Want Radio Licence Fee Reduced

[Special to "Northern Advocate”! WELLINGTON, This Day. When the House went into Committee of Supply this morning for consideration of the estimates. Mr. J. O'Brien (Govt.-Westland) was appointed temporary chairman of committees in the absence ox Mr. R. McKeen (Govt.-Wel-lington South) through illness. The Audit Department vote _ of £43,100 was passed without discussion. A reduction in the amount of license fees for radio listeners was urged by several members when the Broadcasting Estimates totalling £297.770 were being considered. Growing Reserves It was pointed out that reserves of the National Broadcasting Service were growing at a rapid rate and the licensing fee in New Zealand was the highest in (he world. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland) said the accumulated funds of the service were approaching the £900,000 mark and had increased nearly £300,000 in the last two years. In view of this surely there could be a reduction in license fees. Mr. I-I. S. Kyle (Oppo.-Riccarton) said the reduction would mean a relief to more than 400,000 listeners who were* heavily taxed for other purposes. Lee Wants Culture Mr. J. A. Lee (Dem. Lab.-Grey 1 Lynn) opposed any reduction in the license fee. stating that not enough was being done for New Zealand art. Spare profits should be used to pay for music lessons for 200 or 300 New Zealand boys and girls. He wanted to see the profits turned into a cultural dividend. Commercial Radio Debt Mr Holland also raised the question of the means whereby the indebtedness of the Commercial Broadcasting Service to the National Service was being repaid. He said that in 1939 the Commercial Service owed approximately £IOI,OOO to the National Broadcasting Service but this was reduced by £24,000 in 1940 and £37,000 in 1941. Accounts of the department on the other hand showed a net profit of only £14,000. Where did the £37,000 come from? and where were (he reserves for depreciation and taxation to come from when they were required? The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Nash) said the explanation was simple. The amount was treated as an overdraft in the National Broadcasting account. The National Service acted as banker in effect for the Commercial Service and he hoped the Commercial Service would gradually got out of debt. Boosting Quack Medicines Censoring of broadcast programmes was mentioned by Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Gppn.-Riccarton), who asked if there was any censoi’ship of the programmes of the Commercial stations. These programmes put over advertising about quack medicines and as the Government wanted to bring the doctors into line it should deal with' these quack remedies. The Minister for Internal Affairs (Mr Parry): I agree with you. Mr Kyle said some of these preparations were sold for as much as 10 ; 6, when they only cost about 3d to produce. That sort of exploitation should be stopped because gullible people, having heard these specifics advertised over the air, were convinced that the “dope" was a great remedy. “Opposition" Wedge Mr A. S. Richards (Govt., Roskill) said he was not altogether satisfied that there should not be more stringent control, but he contended that if the Opposition could get that first wedge in it would try for others so it could ruin the service. He was sure that was what it wanted to do. Mr F. W. Doidge (Oppn., Tauranga) suggested that to prevent any possibility of broadcasting advertisements giving information to the enemy the Government might consider the possibility and desirability of ceasing the Commercial Broadcasting Service. Mr F. L. Frost (Govt., New Plymouth) contended that if members of the Opposition cared to investigate the system whereby every word o' advertising was checked by the Commercial Broadcasting system before it was put over the air they would realise that no information of any use to the enemy could be put over the air. Amendment for Reduction Mr Holland moved an amendment that the total vote of £297.770 for broadcasting be reduced by £IO.OOO as an indication that the total reserves of £BBO,OOO showed radio fees to the public of New Zealand should be substantially reduced. Discussion on the amendment was still proceeding when the Hoi.se adjourned at 1 p.m.