RADIO SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22877, 4 November 1937, Page 13

RADIO SERVICE

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY DEFENCE BY MINISTER INCREASE IN LISTENERS [" V TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL RE POUT Ell] AYKLLIXGTC)X. AVediiosdny State control of tho radio broadcasti»i« system was defended by tlio Post-

master-General, (lie Hon. F. Jones, in moving the second reading of the Hroadcastiny: Amendment liill in the .House of Representatives to-day. The Minister said that at the end of September there were '271.683 receiving licences, which was an increase of nO.OOO over the figure at the corresponding date of the previous year. New Zealand was second in tlio British Empire and fourth in the world for the number of licences per head of the population. '"The Government believes that Government control is better that board control," continued the Minister. "The fact that licences are increasing by nearly 1000 a week shows that we are giving the service to the people. It also proves that the people are more prosperous and can afford to purchase radio sets and pay the licence fees." Tlio opinion that Parliamentary broadcasts were appreciated was expressed by Mr. Jones, who-considered that the increase in the number ot licence-holders was largely duo to tho fact that the House of Representatives was on tho air. Discussing the purchase of B stations Mr. Jones said that out of 22 stations 18 had agreed to sell to tho Government. Mr. H. S. S. .Kyle (Opposition—Riecarton) : What did you pay lor them? Mr. Jones: 1 have nothing to hide and will give you all the information on the estimates.

Mr. S. G. Holland (Opposition— Christehureh North): Have any B stations been subsidised? Mr. Jones: No. There are only four left and it is hard to say if they will

not bo glad to sell. No one, added the Minister, had been forced off the air and owners had sold the stations at their own free will. BROADCAST PROGRAMMES ENCOURAGING LOCAL TALENT COMPARISON OF FEES PAID [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The encouragement given to local artists by the national broadcasting service in spite of the preference shown by listeners for overseas performers was mentioned bv the Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, in moving the second reading of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-day. A questionnaire circulated to listeners last year by the broadcasting authorities, said the Minister, showed that the great bulk of listeners wanted more items from overseas artists. Many appreciative letters had been received by the national service relative to broadcasts by overseas performers. "I know the suggestion has been made that more should be done to encourage local talent," Mr. Jones continued. "Fees paid to local artists for the three months ended October last totalled £9395, or £720 a week, and fees paid to overseas artists for the same period amounted to £1572, or £l2O a week. This means that six times more was expended on local performers. "We are endeavouring to encourage the local artist. It is only right that we should encourage our own people and I hope the day is not far distant when we will be, able 1o send our own artists to Australia and other parts of the Empire." METHOD OF APPOINTMENT MR. SCRIMGEOU R'S POST CRITICISM BY MR. BROADFOOT [BV TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Criticism of the appointment of Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour to the position of controller of the National Commercial Broadcasting Service was voiced bv Mr. W. J. Broad foot (Opposition—Waitomo) during the debate on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. "Although every precaution was taken over the appointment of the Director of Broadcasting," Mr. Broadfoot said, "no precautions were taken at all for Mr. Scrimgeour. He had no experience of commercial broadcasting and very little business experience, but he had a good tongue and bad abused his rights at the Friendly Road to _ininsidious and clever political propaganda. He denied, of course, that he had abused those rights." , Mr. Scrimgeour was pitchforked into his* job. Mr. Broad foot continued. No applications were called for —-a procedure contrary to that adopted for all major departmental jobs. In fact it was purely and simply a reward for past services. "One of the queer things about this appointment was that the announcement was made by Mr. Scrimgeour himself," said Mr. Broadfoot. "When the Prime Minister was interviewed ho said he had no statement to make. New Zealanders have every reason to look with suspicion on the whole busin°A little later the Speaker interrupted the debate to give members a direction concerning the extent to were entitled to go in the criticism of persons outside the House. He said it was essential to remember in debate that Parliament was a dignified assemblv and that persons outside the House had no opportunity of "W'npc or defending themselves. He added that he was not criticising Air. Broadroot. \fter referring to the circumstances of'tlie sale of the New Zealand adver(isin< r rights in Australia Mr. Broadfoot, "said the facts warranted an inquiry before a tribunal or a Royal Commission. LENDING BY THE STATE QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICY [uv TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] W E LLI NO TON, Wed n rsda y An indication as to when' the promises of a more liberal and progressive lending policy are to be made operative by the State Ad\r.i<e>. 'Corporation was sought by Mr. A. 11. Nordmeyer (Government— Oam-iru) in notice of a question addressed to the Minister in charge of the department the Hon. W. Nash, in the House of Representatives. Mr. Nordmeyer also intends to ask tin; Minister if he is satisfied that the present hoard of management is carrying out tie intentions of the Government and 11 'here i> any need to retain on the board the services of a person already enjoying a high superannuation all ivanec. Information whether any appreciable number of loans has been granted in excess of 00 per cent of the value of the securities offered, including collateral securities deposited with the corporation, is also liought by Mr. Nordmeyer.,