RADIO TOPICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 14

RADIO TOPICS.

AUCKLAND BROADCASTS. THE WEEK'S PROGRAMMES. FEATURES FROM STATION IYA. Tlio following nre features of Hie programmes from IVA for tho week, commencing to-day:— To-dav: 11.30 a.m., resnlls of Auckland Racing Club's meeting; 8 p.m. to 10, concert programme. To-morrow: 8 p.m. fo 10, recorded programme; 9.2 talk, "Japan," Colonel T. Ordc-Le.es. Wednesday: 3 p.m., "Nigger Minstrel Show"; 0.2, talk, "The Forgein Legion," Mr. J. C. Brougham; 0.30 to 11, dance music. Thursday: 12.30 p.m., relay from St. Matthew's Church, 3.15, "Homo Science" talk; 7.40, talk on "Horticulture"; 8, Hadyn Commemoration programme; 9.4, topical talk by Mr. A. B. Chappell. Friday: 7.40 p.m., sports talk; 8 to 10, concert programme.

Saturday Noon, results of Avondale Jockey Club's meeting; 7.40 p.m., talk, "Modern Ballroom Dancing," Mr. W. E. Priestley; 8 to 10, concert programme; 9.2, "Sea Story" by "Le Fore Brace"; dance music. Sunday: 6.55 p.m., relay from St. Mary's Cathedral; 8.30 to 10, relay of Municipal Band from Albert Park. ATTRACTIONS FROM IZR. Features from IZR are as follows: — To-day: Silent. To-morrow: 11.15 a.m., talk, '-'Diet and Health," Madam M. Milno; 7.15 p.m., lecture-recital, "Instruments of the Orchestra," Mr. O. Jensen ; 8, popular programme. Wednesday: 11.15 a.m., talk, "Physical Culture at Homo and Abroad," Mrs. Scarlc; 7.15 p.m., talk, '-'With the New Zealanders Abroad," Mr. R. Talbot. Thursday: 11.15 a.m., talk, "Child Psychology," Mr. W. J. Lyon; 8 p.m., concert programme; 10, dance music. Friday: 11.15 a.m., lecture, "Numorologv," "Mensama"; 7.5 p.m., talk, "Sports," Mr. W. Hindman; 9, musical portrait, "Hadyn—His Life and Compositions," Miss Alice Law. Saturday: 7.15 p.m., talk, Mr. W. A. Moore; 8, popular programme; 10, dance music. Sunday: Regular sessions. AUSTRALIAN FINANCES. COMPANY'S PROFIT OF £6021. ALLOCATION OF LICENCE FEES. The annual report of the Australian Postmaster-General's Department shows how tho wireless revenue derived from licence fees and other sources during the 1930-31 financial year was spent. The department's share of licence revenue was £148,364, but the wireless branch's total income was £150,253. which was disbursed in tho following way:—Upkeep and operation of broadcasting stations, £32,552; upkeep and operation of broadcasting studios, £23,749; supervision and cost of issuing licences, £29,610: telephone circuit for broadcasting purposes, £13,726; depreciation, £9072; superannuation liability and pensions, £2118; interest and exchange on capital cost of equipment, £4278. This made a total of £115,105, which left, a surplus of £35,148, which, together with the. surplus on the postal branch went fo reduce (he aggrega(e losses of the telephone and telegraph branches. The capital cost of the plant and buildings of the wireless branch at the end of the financial year was £128,550, £48.087 having been added during the year. Expressed in terms of licences it is found that the cost of upkeep of stations is about Is 11 jd a licence and of studio Is sd, a total of 3s 4jd. Iho expenses of supervision and collecting the fees are about Is a licence (Is is allowed for this), telephone circuits cost lOd, and other expenses (depreciation, interest, etc.)* absorbed Ild, leaving a surplus of about 2s lid a licence. There are plenty of ways in which tins surplus could lie used for improving the service, states tho Sydney Morning Herald. Apart from the reconstruction of somo of tho older stations there Are opportunities for a relay station in Western Australia, or on the far north coast of Now South Wales, and the provision of permanent landline facilities from Sydney to 2CO. Further information concerning the allocation of revenue derived from the licence fees is given in the report of the Auditor-General for the financial year ended June SO, 1931. At the beginning of the period under review tho Post-master-General held in trust the sum of £lO2 179, which was later paid, as earned, to the Australian Broadcasting Company for tho supply of programmes, and to Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited, for patent royalties. A further sum of £397,303 (an increase of about £24,000) was collected during the year from listeners and experimenters, making a gross total of £499,482 available for distribution, and this was dealt -with in the following manner:—Payment to Tasmanian Broadcasters Pty Limited (licence expired December 13, 1930). £3134: patent royalties (10 a w.A.), £49,365; Australian Broadcasting' Company, Limited, £186,949; IMlG's Department (proportion of licence'fees), £148,364; balance held in (rust to bo paid to tlie A.B.C. and A.W.A. as earned, £111,6(0. " During 1929-30 tho Post master-General received £173.418 (£25,000 more than in 1930 31), and a sum of about £70,000 was available for benefit of consolidated revenue. What Hie Postmaster-General's surplus was last year has not been announced, but it was probably not much less than £40,000. The pavmonts fo the A.B.C. (£186,940) were £28,667 greater than in the year 1929-30 and the company's accounts showed a. profit of £6021. as against, a previous loss of £4896, which, however, in the opinion ol tho Auditor-General, could not be considered as a true loss when tho composition of the company and the fact that £12.500 were allocated to outside broadcasting rights from Fullers Theatres, Ltd., and Union Theatres, Ltd., were taken into consideration. During 1930-31, at, 1 he'instance of (he Postmaster-General's department, the payments at the rate of £SOOO a year by (lie A.B.C. to Fullers' Theatres. Ltd., for broadcasting rights were discontinued. No variation was made in tho payments at the rate of £7500 a year to I. nion Theatres, Ltd. No information is given as to tho payments made by tho A.B.C. for various services, but is reasonable to assume (hat (hr- profit, of £6021 has been arrived at after charging all directors' fees, copvrigbt, payments, broadcasting rights, etc., against, revenue. The amount paid 10 the l!jgh(s Association was probably £30,000.

SAVOY <H\KKA BROADCASTS. Ever since the inception of broadcasting it- lias not been possible. because of copyright, restrictions, to broadcast, a. complete performance of any of I lie Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Now, for the first time in Australia or anywhere, it will be possible to hear them for, as a result, of arrangements made by .T. C. Williamson, Limited, 2TI\Y, Sydney. and the new Melbourne station, 3AW, will broadcast them from time to time*