PROBLEMS IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 4

PROBLEMS IN AUSTRALIA.

FEARS FOR LICENCE FEES

MONEY PAID INTO TREASURY

When the Federal Government, took control of broadcasting in Australia two years ago assurances were given that all the money paid by listeners for licence foes wo uld be devoted to the improvement of transmission and programmes, s,fates the Sydney Morning Herald. An arbitrary division was made, and of the. 24s a licence fee 12s was allotted to the contracting company for (he supply of programmes, including management, office rents, and other expenses. Of tlio balance the Post, Office Department was to pay the royalty fees to Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, for patent, rights, provido transmission stations, land lines and other facilities, including experimental work for the improvement of broadcasting in Australia..

The Postmaster-General, Mr. J. A. Lyons, in the House of Representatives recently, stated that, from July 17, 1929, to October 31, 1930, there were issued 422,102 listeners' licences. These figures excluded Tasmania, where the contracting company, the Australian Broadcasting Company, Limited, did not assume control until December 14. After the, Post Office Department had paid all charges against its proportion of the 24s a. licence fee, there was a balance of £70,000. This money had been paid into the. Federal Treasury.

Listeners are perturbed "t, this action. The assumption is that the money has gone into the Federal revenue accounts and 50 is lost, definitely (<•» broadcasting. Different organisations are giving serious consideration to the matter so as to preclude the possibility of listeners being taxed for the raising of revenue for purposes other than the provision of programmes and the development of broadcasting in Australia. Under the terms of the contract made between the Post, Office Department, and the Australian Broadcasting Company, Limited, 16 relay stations were to be erected during the currency of the contract, which expires in IS months' time. The only relay station yet erected is that, of 2XC, Newcastle, and the date of its opening js still indefinite, in spite of the fact, that the engineers of the Post Office Department, who undertook the erection of the, station, have had several consultations with the expert, whom the contractors sent from London to assist the official experts. The Postmaster-General now announces that, it is expected three more relay stations will be. completer! within the. next nine months. No information is available as to when, or where, the remaining 12 relay stations promised are to lie erected. Hence, the whole position regarding the future of broadcasting in Australia is uncertain and unsatisfactory. Protests are to lie made to the Federal Government upon this matter by representatives of listeners and of the radio trades.