RADIO BROADCASTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19658, 9 June 1927, Page 10

RADIO BROADCASTING.

It is quite evident that New Zealand holders of wireless listening licences are growing more and more dissatisfied with the conditions under which broadcasting is conducted. They have become more vocal lately in their discontent, but it is obvious also that its volume has increased. Speaking generally, the complaints are about the inconvenient allocation of broadcast wave-lengths, the broad tuning of the New 'Zealand stations, the quality of programmes supplied by the Broadcasting Company, and the lack of information about its finances. The first two questions are of a technical nature. The average licence-holder, though he may be aware of difficulties they create, is hardly qualified to express an opinion on them. Everyone is interested in the remaining two, which are interdependent. The company has said that when there are 40,000 licences it will be in a position to supply first-class programmes. This statement contains an implied admission that the present programmes are not first-class, and infers also that the solution lies in increased finances. It aims high. With 40,000 full-time licences it will have a gross income of £50,000 a year paid in advance. On the most recent figures, there are now 16,492 full-time listening licences. This means a return to the company of over £24,800, besides what it may receive from part-time listening and other licence fees. This sum may or may not be adequate to operate the stations now existent. The complaints of listeners may or may not be justified. Nobody is in a position to know this, for while published returns show approximately what is received in support of broadcasting, there has never been any statement giving details of expenditure. This is an undesirable position. There have been demands for a balance-sheet, but they have never been satisfied. The Government cannot divest itself of responsibility in this matter. It collects the licence fees, and incidentally prosecutes those who make default in paying them. It owes to the public an account of the manner in which the money is spent. Until this is given, there is no real answer to the complaints of those who are dissatisfied : until it is given, the complaints will increase. It is time the Government, as the final governing authority, took heed of the public discontent with New Zealand radio broadcasting.