HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 10

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at . 7.30 p.m. . .. . ... •• BROADCASTING BILL. The .Broadcasting Bill was introduced by Governor-GenoraTs Message, and was read a first time. The Postmastergeneral (Mr J. B. Donald) explained the . contents of the measure along the lines of his recent statement. He said the board that would be set up to control broadcasting would not be a State Department. Its members would be appointed by the Government. : . Mr W. Lee Martin' IRaglan): Who will they be? Mr Donald: I have already had 200 applications, but no one has been selected up to the present. : . . , Mr . Martin: Is it true that provision has been made for the inclusion of two superannuated public servants? Mr Donald; 1 don’t know of it. The Postmaster-general said there would be four members on the board. The Bill stipulated that no member, of Parliament would be eligible for appointment. — (Laughter.) The remuneration of the members of the board wouljl total £1350. It would carry out the work .at present being done by the Broadcasting Company, and, he hoped, to better advantage. Mr Langstone (Waimarino): What will it cost to buy the company out? Mr Donald: It in anticipated that it will cost about £30,000. ’Mr J. A. Nash (Palmerston): Will you have to buy out the present stations? ;Mr-Donald: Yes, Mr H. M. Campbell (Hawke’s Bay) expressed 'disapproval of the Bill. He said the board would, according to the Minister, cost £1350 annually, and there would also- be an expenditure of £30,000 in. buying put the present company. He considered this unwise at a time like the present. Mr W. E. Barnard (Napier): There is money in it for the country. . Mr Campbell: This is no time for delving into fresh State enterprises. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) protested against the method of appointment. The broadcasting service belonged to the listenere-in, who paid the license fees, and the State would not have_ to find a penny piece. He' considered it most unfair that listeners, who would have to pay for buying ont the company, and everything else, should have no say in the selection of the board. If the 60,000 holders of licenses were in this position they would have less influence on the board than they had on the company today. . Mr A. E. Ansell (Chalmers) said he joined with Mr Howard in protesting - against the method of appointment. Mr Donald: It is the intention of the Government to see that listen£rs-in have 1 representation on the board, v Mr Ansell asked whether any of the profits from broadcasting would be used for the improvement of the service. Mr Forbes said he thought when the Bill was fully understood it would be welcomed by listeners. The board would consist of the best men -available. It would be impossible to devise a system of election by listeners. It would create an unsatisfactory position if the people in the far north were asked to choose between Jones, Smith, or Robinson from somewhere else, when it was quite likely they would know nothing about the men nominated. The Government would be in a better position to Judge what men would be suitable. Mr F. Waite (Clutha): Are you going to make arrangements to broadcast parliamentary debates? Mr Forbes; I hope not, for the sake of those who are listening in. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr J. G. Coates) 1 said that very careful examination would have to be given to the question whether it was wise for the State to accept further responsibilities under the present economic circumstances. Immediately upon the- change in control there would be demands for improyements in the service, and he was inclined to think that the Government might find itself in the same position as the Broadcasting Company, namely, that capital expenditure would be to effect improvements He was afraid if the public was to be given a full, complete, and up-to-date service it would be found that a heavy expenditure would lie ahead of the board. Mr D. 6. Sullivan (Avon) asked whether any provision was being made for B class stations. Mr J. A. Nash and Mr W. E. Barnard urged that the listeners should be given reasonable rights in the matter of the selection of members of the baord. Mr Donald assured the House that there ■would be no political appointments. He pointed out that although the times were oad there were more listeners to-day than

ever. That showed there need be no fear that the revenue would go down. He was satisfied that before lo?g, there would be'lo9,ooo listeners. Referring to the baord, he said that if he held his present oflice when it was appointed be was quite satisfied that listener would have their say. - , Mr Howard: What do you mean by Donald said that listeners would be appointed. LOCAL BILLS.

The following local Bills were passed: —Auckland and Suburban. Drainage Amendment (Mr A. J, .Stallworthy): Cameron and Soldiers’ Memorial lark (Masterton), Trustees Empowering (Mr' G R. Sykes); Rotorua Borough Reclamation Empowering (Mr C. H. Chnkard); South Wairarapa River Board Empowering (Mr T. W. M‘Donald); and the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment (Mr B. J. Howard). _ “ Another local Bill, the Auckland War Memorial Museum Maintenance Amendment (Mr J. B. Donald) was read a second time. The motion to commit the Auckland Harbour Bridge Empowering Bill was adopted, and a number’of clauses had been passed by the committee when progress was reported prior to the House rising at 10.30 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday next.