EDUCATION BY RADIO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21101, 8 February 1932, Page 10

EDUCATION BY RADIO.

broadcasts to schools. FREE LICENCES TO BE GRANTED. POLICY NOT YET COMPLETED. The use of wireless as a medium for education in schools is being definitely encouraged by the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, which is granting free licences for receivers used solely in schools. The attitude of the board concerning educational broadcasts was sought by the Minister o£ Education, the Hon. R. Masters, at last week's meeting of the board. The board decided to offer its cooperation and to ask tho Minister to formulate a scheme. Educational broadcasts for schools were carried out weekly for tho greater part of last year by 2YA, Wellington, which was then controlled by the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Limited. No broadcasts are taking place this year, however, until a comprehensive scheme lias boon evolved by the education authorities arid approved by the Broadcasting Board. Educational broadcasts would be of the greatest value to backblock schools, but the board will be unable 10 proceed with any scheme for broadcasting or relaying to country schools until the important policy questions of Dominion-wide coverage and the position of B stations are determined. It is probable the board would be prepared to subsidise special lectures for school broadcasts.

B CLASS STATIONS.

CAREFUL INQUIRY NEEDED. APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. Commenting on the B station controversy to-day, the chairman of the Broadcasting Board, Mr. H. D. Vickery, said the members of the board had been appointed by tlie Government to conduct tlie broadcasting service, and this they intended to do to the best of their ability, without fear or favour. The B station question was not capable of being settled without a very careful inquiry and consideration. It was clearly impracticable to deal with the matter piecemeal, and the board was having the whole question thoroughly investigated by experts. Strong- representations had been made to the board by the B stations outside the centres for monetary assistance, and it must be remembered that in some cases such stations were giving valuable service, because the reception in their areas from the board's stations was very indifferent. "Would any fair-minded person suggest that the B stations in the towns should be subsidised and the claims of country stations be disregarded ?" ho asked.

"The board can have no idea of its immediate and future financial commitments until the price of the assets it has to purchase is known. In the circumstances, it is certainly not justified in jumping in the dark and paying subsidies to a number of B stations. A worth-while subsidy to each station would amount to a considerable sum, and the board conceivably might soon be in a state of financial embarrassment. To say that the board is unappreciative of the services given by some of the B stations is neither correct nor reasonable. The board, however, cannot start building without being assured that it has ample building material oil hand, and that is briefly the position."