RADIO CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22847, 30 September 1937, Page 8

RADIO CONTROL

POLICY OF GOVERNMENT POSITION OF B STATIONS [by telegraph—tress association] KELSON, Wednesday Wireless broadcasting matters weiv discussed by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, with a deputation here. He said if it were found th »t the people of Nelson were not getting an efficient service, it was the Government's job to provide it. The Minister explained the Government's policy in regard to buying and closing B stations. It- was considered not desirable • to allow co 111111 ere Ml stations to be privately owned. 1 "at was a grievance with some of thef 1> stations, but the Government had offered to buy . the: stations ii the) would sell or allow them to carry 011 if they wanted to. Sixteen stations had been bought and five were still carrying ou. The Government must consider whether these should be subsidised and to what extent.

The Minister also referred to freedom on the air. There were people who thought everybody should be allowed to speak over the air, but that could not be done, and he stressed that they could not give special privileges to a few and not to others. It was essential for the Government to own the radio services of the Dominion, and as far as talks were concerned, they should give (every opportunity for people who had something to contribute for the educational benefit of the people to state their case over the air. ''When 1 get a report 1 will consider whether the Government will support 2Z11," concluded Mr. Jones.