NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19558, 10 February 1927, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

BROADCASTING'S PROGRESS. Discussing the transference of control from the old to the new British Broadcasting Company, the Times paid a cordial tribute to the achievement of the pioneer organisation. "Not less remarkable is the manner in which the public have taken up broadcasting. They have dropped into it as if it were the most natural thing in the world that at the cost of a trivial sum they should have a running entertainment for the best part of the day in their owp homes—music, news, speeches, lectures, addresses, plays, sermons — voices speaking to them on almost every conceivable subject in well-timed, punctual succession. Criticism, of course,• there has been; it would be impossible to satisfy or "please everybody; but no critic, or body of critics, has been found hardy enough to come forward and say that, taken all round, it could have been done better." Remarking that British broadcasting has not flooded the world with such contemptible balderdash as the "movies," the Times added that the service has its limitations, and it serves no purpose to ignore them. It can never be an entirely satisfactory substitute for the voice heard at first hand, the human presence, and the printed page. As to the future, it is not difficult to see how finance and programmes interact. Items of real merit will have to be paid for; and though cheapness in a programme will not be synonymous with nastiness, it may be with feebleness and monotony. As the novelty of wireless wears off its intrinsic excellence must be its recommendation. ,

COMMERCIAL ETHICS. The propriety of parties to commercial transactions offering and accepting presents was recently discussed by the New Zealand Accountant.' It refers to the retirement of an official from an important public position, which he had occupied for 17 years, and his statement that no presents had been offered to him by individuals or firms with which he dealt on behalf of the organisation. "The fact speaks volumes for his reputation for trustworthiness and integrity on the one hand and for the honesty and straight dealing of the persons with whom the concern deals on the other," says the Accountant. "This Dominion is singularly fortunate in' respect to the absence of what might be termed minor graft, and it is to, be hoped that the day is far distant when those who desire trade will resort to the tactics of some of our commercial confreres in other parts of the world. While it ill becomes us to vaunt our honesty, because such a policy is only what is expected of reputable citizens, it is pleasing, nevertheless, to realise that in spite of the keen competition that is so much in evidence nowadays New Zealand business men as a class conform to a stricter code of ethics than is the case elsewhere. In this respect we believe that we are especially fortunate in regard to the calibre of tjie' responsible men in the Civil Service and in our local government bodies. Too many of us are apt to take these things for granted without appreciating the temptations that are sometimes placed in the paths of our purchasing officers or those who are responsible for the expenditure of thousands of pounds of public money."

BRITISH AIR POWER. "Though peculiarly vulnerable to attack by air, Britain is only fourth or fifth in the list of air Powers. Our Navy is impotent to defend us against aerial attack. Our present Air Force, though possibly, man for man, more efficient than anyother in Europe, is utterly inadequate to repel an invading air Power," Sir Alan Burgoyne, M.P., wrote recently. " There may be no signs of imminent danger, but it is none the less imperative that we should be in a position which will permit speedy expansion in a moment of crisis. We need more machines and more pilots. We need to create an aerial prestige and an aerial tradition comparable with our naval tradition. Already British commercial aviation is being forced out of its own field as a direct result of the advantage which French and German air lines are given by the heavy subsidies they receive. German aeroplanes are now supplying the air service between London and Amsterdam, a route which Imperial Airways can no longer afford to cover. French machines have captured a large proportion of the traffic between London and Paris. Our aircraft, industry—the heart and mainspring of air power—has been reduced to such a state of fiux and uncertainty that it is becoming difficult to retain the skilled services of its key men or to attract new skill and brains to it from outside. On the Continent conditions in the industry are vitally different. It is regarded there as a key industry upon whose prosperity the future of every other great industry, and, indeed, the life of the country, depend. Our neighbours are building up huge air fleets steadily, while our own air fleet is slipping as steadily into decline. We all know how readily the plant which to-day produces commercial machines can tomorrow be converted to war uses. We ail know the propaganda valus and commercial importance of extensive air lines. I fully appreciate that in the present condition of the nation's finances the money to expand our air strength would probably have to be diverted from the other fighting services. But this vital question of national defence is not one that should be approached in a competitive spirit. There is not the slightest shadow of doubt that the Air Force has to-day become our first line of defence. The financial aspects of this situation require to be faced fairly •and squarely from the one standpoint- of national safety without an over-sensitive regard to ancient traditions and pxejudicea."