BAND BROADCASTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20130, 15 December 1928, Page 14

BAND BROADCASTS.

MOVE FOR RESTORATION. RADIO DEALERS INTERVENE. In the hope of restoring tho highly popular broadcasts of concerts by the Auckland Municipal Band, which were discontinued early in September, the Auckland Radio Dealers' Association has entered into correspondence with tho Radio Broadcasting Company and the Auckland City Council and has forwarded copies of the letters to the Herald. 11l reply to an inquiry by the associa tion about the reasons for discontinuing the broadcasts the Broadcasting Company states tho council declined to renew tho agreement made last year whereby the company was to have tho light to broad cast all organ recitals and all band con certs except those at tho Zoo, in return for a payment of £3OO a year, but asked £750 for the current year, although only 37 available band concerts were projected and 26, of these were to bo given in (he open air.

The company states it suggested as an alternative I hat band concorts should lie relayed at an agreed-upon fee for each concert, as in the other cities, but the council would not agree to this, and negotiations ceased for the time being The new proposal to hold most of (lie concerts in parks instead of the Town Hall would add considerably to the cost of carrying out relays over and above fht- council's increased charge.

The Radio Dealers Association on Thursday forwarded a letter to the City Council, enclosing a copv of the company's statement, "In the opinion of this asso riation " the letter states, "it is very desirable «hat these concerts, should be broadcast so as to reach the large section of the community who. owing to old age sickness or other sufficient reason, are unable to attend the concerts." It suggests tho council should give the matter further consideration, with a view to tonewing the contract with tho company on tho same terms as Inst venr.