RADIO LISTENERS’ LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21601, 23 March 1932, Page 12

RADIO LISTENERS’ LEAGUE

OTAGO BRANCH FIRST ANNUAL MEETING The first annual meeting of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Radio Listeners’ League was held in the Motor Club Rooms last evening, Mr J. T. Cooper presiding over a fair attendance of members, ANNUAL REPORT. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet the chairman said that the year's work had been very difficult, due mostly to the fact that the league had not had the measure of support from Other centres that it anticipated at the commencement. The Otago branch of the league, owing, no dotibt, to its being the originating branch, had the largest membership of any branch in the Dominion, but despite this there was a very considerable number of listeners who had not joined. As members were aware, there had been several matters during the past 12 months in which the league had had to take a hand to use Its influence. The trouble between the Copyright Association and the B class stations was the first thing in which the league was able to take a hand, and, whilst it was to be admitted that the B class stations did not get all the consideration they were entitled to, the league felt that It did its duty in helping to settle this dispute. Then came the demand from the gramophone companies prohibiting their using of copyright gramophone records. The league took Its part in this dispute, which was fixed up temporarily, although not satisfactorily. Unfortunately this trouble was again on the horison, and appeared to constitute a serious menace towards the operations of both A and B stations in New Zealand. Now that broadcasting in New Zealand had been taken Ol'er and would be controlled by an independent hoard, no doubt the listeners Would be in a strong enough position to assist the stations to maintain their present privileges with regard to the use of gramophone records. The executive felt that this matter had a strong call to the listeners to support the league fully by their membership. The Radio Broadcasting Bill had occupied the attention of the executive for nearly the whole period under review. The work In the Otago district had been very heavy, and it was pleasing to report that the Bill Was now made law. The Broadcasting Board had been constituted, together with the Advisory Council, on which listeners would have direct representation. The executive nominated the secretary of the league (Mr H. Booth) to represent Otago on the Advisory Council, and Mr Booth had been appointed to that position. Now that the Broadcasting Bill had become law, listeners would recognise the fact that it was more than ever necessary to have a strong listeners’ league, and ft was the duty of every listener to join up with the league and persuade their friends to join also. Since the commencement of the year there had been several resignations from the executive. All the officers who had resigned deserved thanks for the work they did during their term of Office, but owing to pressure of business they felt that they could not continue. Mr L. Mercier seconded the motion, and urged all listeners to support the league, as it was only by concerted effort that they could have their grievances rectified. The report was adopted.

ELECTION OE OEEICE-BEAKERS. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr <T. T. Cooper; vice-prcsi dents—Dr B. Dodd, Mr H, Begg; committee —Messrs E. Anderson, G. T. Edgar, L, Mercicr, H. Booth, L. Bates, N. Shephard, W. Herbert; secretary and treasurer, Mr H, Booth. GENERAL. On the motion, of Mr Herbert, seconded by Mr Meroier, it was decided to write to the Post and Telegraph Department and ask if it would agree to licenses being paid in quarterly instalments, without increase of the annual fee.

It was further decided that in future the branch should carry oil as the Otago Listeners’ League, and that the annual subscription should he Is. At the conclusion of the general business, Mr H, Booth, who was recently appointed as the Otago representative on the Advisory Council of the Broadcasting Board, delivered an address on the work of the council and of the board. The text of Mr Booth’s address will be found elsewhere in this issue,