B RADIO STATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23200, 26 May 1937, Page 5

B RADIO STATIONS

FEARS FOR THE FUTURE FACED WITH ANNIHILATION THE GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGES (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, May 25. The alarm and apprehension as to the future of B radio stations, expressed by officials of the New Zealand Association of Radio Listeners and the United Listeners Club in a broadcast from IZM, Manurewa, on Sunday night, has been followed by a decision to hold a public meeting of protest in the Town Hall on June 10. This decision was made at a meeting at the office of United Listeners Club. Those present included Mr H. B. Arthur (president) and Mr R. W. Mander (secretary of United Listeners Club), and representatives of stations IZM and IZJ, and the vice-president and secretary of the New Zealand Association of Radio Listeners. The following decisions were arrived at:— 1. That those present be constituted a committee, with power to add, for the purpose of holding a massed meeting at the,, Auckland Town Hall with, a view to the passing of a resolution calling upon the Government to carry out its pledges concerning ,B stations in their entirety. .'• 2. That a further meeting be held at an early date to which the various local bodies and organisations known, to be in sympathy with B stations be invited to send representatives, ; ' .

3. That all steps be taken to facilitate an early and successful meeting for the purpose of ensuring that the Goovernment be requested to make available to B stations full power and extended hours, and adequate revenue in terms of its specific pledge. ,-• ....

In the course of the broadcast from IZM on Sunday night a representative of United Listeners Club declared that * the Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) had 1 said during his election campaign that he would not let anybody down. "We contend that the B stations have not. only been let down, but that they are being completely annihilated," said the speaker. The failure of the present Administration to carry put its promise to B stations was a bitter disappointment to all sections of the community. Listeners would not stand by and see these popular stations go' out without making a> strong protest. . The, methods .by which endeavours were being made to eliminate.,these stations were most unjust; ■■ • : ; ■-.••"•■■; • ;,.'.; The speaker referred to the xe* : fusal of the Government; to make known to B station owners what its proposition would be if the Government offer of purchase was hot accepted. \ The Acting Minister of. Broadcasting (Mr F. Jones) would not promise a subsidy in the event of B stations refusing to;;sell. action of the Government was.tantar' mount -to asking• B ; stations mit'"suicide, -because they- would, probably be ' starved out'? anyway. It was clear that the policy of thei Government was, v as expressed- -by. Mr A, F. Moneiny MP. fbr Rotorua,; that/ it saw "no,- reason' ■ for. -the tinued existence of B stations. Listeners would not let the. B stations down, in such a. time-of emergency. - News has,. been \ received that s>e Otago Listeners' League, in conjunction interested -bodies, in Dunedin, has 1 arranged with the Mayor for a .'public, meeting to be: held in Dunedin to discuss :'& stations., ',.'. ■: ■''-■■ ?■..■■' ■■ i\:<.\