PRODUCE THE BALANCE-SHEET!

NZ Truth, Issue 1229, 20 June 1929, Page 1

PRODUCE THE BALANCE-SHEET!

Listeners To Radio Programmes Left In Darkness

WHEN WILL R.B.C. DISCLOSE POSITION ?

It should be apparent to tl are innumerable listeners to New Zealand, Radio Broadcast] - satisfied with the deal they are WHEN the late Government granted what is nothing less than a monopoly to the R.8.C., a certain agreement was signed. Section 8 of that agreement specifies that "The Minister may have all books of account of the company examined fi*om time to time and may at his discretion publish any information gained from such examination." This has never yet been done, and •the holders of • radio licenses, not to mention the general public, are legiti-

he Postmaster General that there programmes broadcast by ' the Lng Company who are far from getting month after month. mately entitled to be curious as to why this is so. Section 12 of the; initial agreement also states: "The company shall prepare and submit to the Minister not later than May 31 of each year during the currency of this agreement a copy of the annual profit and loss account m respect of each station, and a bal-ance-sheet of the company's financial operations for the year ending May 31 preceding, provided that the originals of the documents shall be duly certified by a registered accountant ..." Again, section 18 gives power to the Minister to revoke "these presents" if in 'his opinion, and having due regard to its financial resources, the company • shall not have adequately performed its .agreement. Pending a clear and comprehensive balance-sheet being produced for the information of the public, there is bound to be dissatisfaction. Rumor says, the Government have conceded an amended agreement to the R.B, Company, or If they have not already done this they are about to do so.. In any, case why should there be the necessity for this secrecy? If there is nothing to hide, let the balance-sheet of the company be placed before the public and let them judge for themselves whether listeners are getting a square deal.Why the present Government should accept the errors of judgment of their predecessors, is hard lto understand. Certainly it looks as if they were doing so, and it rests' with the present Post-master-General to dispel this idea.