B RADIO STATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 April 1937, Page 9

B RADIO STATIONS

“NO COMPULSION TO SELL” DESIRE TO BE FAIR [United Press Association] WELLINGTON, 23rd April. Representatives of B class broadcasting stations waited on the Acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) and the Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones) yesterday to discuss the oilers made by the Government for the acquisition of private stations. Mr Jones stated to-day that Messrs Green, Mackay, and Walls had stated the case of B stations, and after pointing out the, services they had rendered to the community, contended that the amount recently offered by the Governmnet for their stations were inadequate. In reply, both the Acting PrimeMinister and the Postmaster-General pointed out that the Government was desirous of being fair to the B stations and was, therefore, prepared, if the owners were dissatisfied with the amounts offered, to submit the questions to arbitration. The individual owners were also offered an opportunity of discussing the matter on the basis of the offers made, and the Ministers readily agreed to an extension of time, if this were desired, for consideration of the offers.

In reply to a question whether the Government would subsidise such of the B stations as were not acquired, the Ministers replied that subsidies would be granted only where justified in the light of the requirements of the broadcasting service as a whole. While it was made clear that the Government desired that broadcasting should be a national undertaking, it was indicated that no compulsion to sell would be exercised upon the owners of private stations. Mr Jones stated that certain B stations had already accepted the Government’s offers to purchase, and it was expected that as a result of the negotiations now proceeding other stations would take the opportunity of disposing of their undertakings.