BROADCASTING IN N.Z.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 8

BROADCASTING IN N.Z.

THE COMPANY'S POSITION (Per Press Association.) AIfUKLAiNI), this day. Air AlcNamara, the Post Office secretary, addressing the Auckland Listen-ers-in League, said the . Broadcasting Co.'s expenditure had been strictly in order, that the programmes had not been of higher quality because of the heavy capital expenditure, nnci unavoidable heavy' running' expenses. The question of Government control was a matter of policy on which he could express no opinion. The Government had made an agreement with two responsible business men and Avas carrying it put. As for listeners seeing the balancesheets, be thought they should accept the definite assurance/'' by the Post-master-General that the income was being properly spent, and that everything was in order. Tbe; supervision was very strict indeed. Investors would not take up shares in the company and the whole financial responsibility fell on Messrs Goodiellow and Harris. Though capitalised originally at £20,000 the company had spent ne'arly £50,000 erecting three stations. The*Auckland and Clu'istchurch stations cost approximately £BSOO, and the Wellington station accounted for nearly all the remainder. This involved heavy interest charges, which, with the charges for depreciation, rent,, salaries, royalties, rates, light,- povyer, repairs and replacements had to be met before anything was available for the purchase of talent. The company was making plans so that this year more than the. income in sight wouljd be expended on programmes, lie understood the company intended within .'i fortnight to provide additional talent and improve the programmes in anticipation of increased revenue. The company had in view the relaying of the best programmes frpm one" station to another, but could not do so. at. present.