RADIO PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 17

RADIO PROGRESS

TELETISION OUTLOOK —_ ■ . NOT READY FOR THE HOME EXPERIMENTS IN AMERICA < •' ' | BROADCASTING OF PARLIAME NT

Television in the home is not a irer- |p vice that will be general for some ye irs to come, according to Major-Gent ral W> James J. Harliord, chairman of l;he board of directors of the Radio Corpc ra- jfc tion of America, who was a through fe, passenger for Sydney by the Monterey yesterday. General Harbord said toile- Mf vision was in a purely experimental Mf stage, not ready for presentation to l;he $!':• masses, because of the present inability fp to overcome distance restrictions. |t' : "Programmes can only be received «|jfwithin a range of about 40 miles from 4 the station of origin, and it is as yet impossible to syndicate broadcasts," If; said General Harbord. "Radio interests W aim to make it possible to broadcast items over networks of stations, an is || now dono with strigbtforward radio ||> programmes, so that millions of pecple f|" will see and hear features at the sjme time. l v ; Sales M'ot Being Pushed " : * "Television is not being developed 1! commercially, in order to avoid putting 111 subscribers to great expense to buy nets :||| that may be completely obsolete within six months," he continued. "For •'this (j!' ; reason, the sale of sets is not being ff' pushed. Regular test broadcasts for ex- ?§' : perimental purposes are carried out %■ from the top oJ: the Empire State Build- v|'' ing in New York, and many receiving » sets aro distributed among experts and ■s" capable amateurs to supply reports on ||f the transmissions." . fe

General Harbord said there seemed no prospect that the State would over | take control of radio ownership in America. There were some Governor ent experimental stations, but none thai, he I knew of in any State that was officially . I controlled. Full'use of radio was made_ Ifor political addresses, and party speakers were privileged with equal tim<i in | which to issue their statements. \ j: Making Fools of Themselves "Congress in not broadcast because . p the member? do not want it so," ; laid |j General Harbord, who was interest©! in the New Zealand Government's scheme | of broadcasting Parliament. "I think j| such broadcasts would serve a good ;>ur- 'f. pose. They would temper the outbursts f of shakers, and have a sobering elFect .'I on them. Knowing that he was ;>ub- I lishing his remarks to the world, a man would not get up and make a foci of « himself with half-baked statemer he concluded,. !j Accompanied by his secretary, Mr. I E. S. Colling, General Harbord wil l re- | main in Australia until April 21, 'Then he will leave on a trip to Jav;a before returning to America. #

WELCOMED BY MAYOR s HOSPITALITY APPRECIATED • s -» ' s «^2? A mayoral reception was teiidered to General Harbord at the Town Hall yesterday. The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davii, said the city wus always pleased to welcome distinguished visitors. Be expressed the hope that General Harbord would find time to have an extended holiday in New Zealand. General Harbord said he deeply; appreciated tlie hospitality showi him. He hoped to find an opportunity of spending in New Zealand such a holiday as; the importance and attractions of the Domiinion warranted.