A FORWARD VIEW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22903, 10 June 1936, Page 7

A FORWARD VIEW

BROADCASTING POSSIBILITIES “ LIVING IN A NEW AGE ” fFrom Ouk Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 9. The opinion that the Government would take a forward view of the tremendous possibilities for service oficrcd by radio broadcasting was expressed by Mr C. L. Carr (Govt.. Timaru) when speaking during the second reading debate on the Broadcasting Bill in the House of Kepreeontatives to-night. Mr Carr said that tlie previous Government had only made full use of those possibilities when they served its own ends. “This is a Bill after my own heart, Mr Carr said. “We are living in a newage. This is an age of new Governments, new methods, and now men. Broadcasting must have a forward look. This Government has that forward look, and realises the infinite possibilities for good in broadcasting, but with a new institution and a new Government progress must be made by some system of trial and 61 Mr Carr said that the Government did not intend that broadcasting should be controlled by a board of “ incompetent political favourites " or a staff of very unequal qualifications. The control would Pc achieved by something better, and achieved at the moment. The Government would see that the control came from a representative of the people elected to do the job. , , „ . « Wo need a new outlook for broadcasting, new methods, and new men," Mr Carr said. The old Government accepted the radio rather grudgingly. It more or less put up with it except when it played into its own hands and it could use it for party purposes. . Mr S. G. Smith (Opposition, New Plymouth) : That is not so. Mr Carr: Then why did the former Minister of Finance talk about Ottawa over the air on bis return and refuse to allow the Loader of the Opposition to say a word in reply? The Opposition never need be afraid that we will follow the evil example and refuse to allow the other side to put its case over the air Mr Carr admitted that discretion would have to be used in broadcasting. Broad casters, like everybody else, must exercise judgment. They must discriminate He asserted that be could not see_ the force of the argument of Mr Hamilton (Opposition, Wallace) that the Bill embodied any dictatorship. Answering a protest by Mr Hamilton about the dangers of infringing the patent and copyright law Mr Carr stated that the Government had advisers on those points who were ns capable to advise as anybody in New Zealand. “ The board, which the member for Wallace has described as so efficient, is pronounced as incompetent—utterly incompetent," said Mr Carr. “ J3y whom? ” asked an Opposition member. “By those who judge a tree by its roots, retorted Mr Carr. The board members were not chosen for their qualifications. They did not have any. It they had been chosen for their qualifications it would have been by accident. “ What is wrong with advertising? We have advertising in the newspapers, on hoardings, in films and on posters. Why not then advertising over the air? Over Ihe air it can be cleverly clone, and can be made entertaining. If people do not like it they do not need to listen to it. Because there i« advertising in the newspapers you do not have to read it." Mr Carr said that in his correspondence on broadcasting 95 per cent, of the representations lie received bad been in the form of criticism and dissatisfaction with the previous administration of broadcasting. There had been no satisfaction on the staff, and none among the performers or the listeners. Mr Carr emphasised his view of the great future of broadcasting for schools, and advocated greater encouragement of local talent in programmes. Sunday mograinmes in New Zealand he described as dull, dreary, dismal, and depressing. They aped “ the Tory-infested ” 8.8. C. Sunday afternoons.