RADIO SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 14

RADIO SERVICE.

g; r) —j\ s a listener-in I am greatly concerned at the resignation of Mr. Prentice, and have little hesitation in stating my fixed belief that it will completely dash the hopes, so freely expressed, that ere long the numbftr of licences issued will run up to 40,000. Mr. Prentice was brought here from Sydney, where he made the station what it is; and during the comparatively short time he has been in New Zealand has done much to improve the stations here. It is my firm belief he knows more about broadcasting in all its branches than all the collective Broadcasting Board of New Zealand, and that is probably the real reason why his resignation Tlas been so readily accepted. I am sorry, so will be thousands of others, for it means farewell to advance and improvement. W. H. Dkaffin. Sir, —In view of the calamity which has befallen radio listeners through the resignation of Mr. Prentice, it appears that the time has now arrived for the general body of wireless subscribers to press with all possible urgency for the service to bo taken over and run entirely by the Government. It is clear that satisfaction cannot be looked for from a private company, whose ultimate object must necessarily be dividends, and who, as has been clearly demonstrated, are supremely regardless of the interests of their subscribers. There certainly has been a decided improvement in the fare provided for us since Mr. Prentice came to New Zealand, but much remains to be done to still further improve matters and place the service more on a footing with that obtaining in other countries. It is apparent that this end cannot be achieved otherwise than by complete Government control. But should matters still prove unsatisfactory subscribers would at least have the opportunity of reaching the ears of the authorities through their local representatives. It will be impossible to find an announcer to fill the blank created by the loss of Mr. Prentice, who has really become a personal friend of every listener. It is against the possibility of a similar calamity occurring in the future that I would urge radio enthusiasts to band themselves together with a view to securing a readjustment of the basis of management on the lines suggested. W. J. Joss. 6, Windmill Road, Mount Eden. Sir, —Listening-in has come to represent a vory substantial public interest in this province. Nine thousand people have taken out licences and at a conservative estimate this will represent at least 30,000 listeners. The interests and opinions of so large a number of citizens have alright to be heard and heeded. The Radio Broadcasting Company is shutting its ears and apparently not caring the proverbial "tinker's cuss" for either the Minions or the interests of its clients. This company, be it noted, has never had to win custom by service. It was presented at the outset with an assured income, an absolute monopoly, and unique potential values. Had it offered a ately reasonable service its clientele would have increased by leaps and bounds. Instead of this, it has offered a discriminating public execrable fare, it has made frequent inexplicable changes of staff, tied the hands of its officers so that the amount of money available for programmes was absurdly inadequate, and then said in effect, " As soon as a sufficient number of new clients will take us on trust and pay their fees in advance, we will see what can.be done in the direotio* of giving a worth-while service," The only thing the company has done to merit any. goodwill was the appointment of Mr. Prentice, a gentleman of outstanding personality and experience. The appointment itself was farcical unless the directors were prepared to be guided by Mr. Prentice's experience ana advice. Now, because he is apparently pressing his views against less well-informed judgments, he has apparently got to give way. Such a situation is intolerable. It is now the duty of listeners to make the volume of protest such as neither the Government nor the company can possibly ignore. Five-Valve.