"ON THE AIR"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17241, 24 April 1930, Page 9

"ON THE AIR"

BROADCASTING IN CANADA NATIONAL CONTROL LEGISLATION PROPOSED OTTAWA, March 15. The Canadian Government has decided to accept the responsibility of establishing- national control of radio broadcasting in Canada, it is believed. It is expected that next week Parliament will begin consideration of the findings of the Royal Commission which investigated radio broadcasting in Canada, and Hon. I*. <l. A. Cardin, Minister of Marine and Fisheries, will introduce into the House of Commons a bill embodying most of the recommendations of the Sir John Aird commission.

Tho sponsoring of the Mil by the Cover nine nl means that it will become law, and is taken as proof that the Government has decided on nationallyowned broadcasting. It is understood that a definite plan for the acquisition of existing private-ly-owned radio stations and the operation of the principal ones as Government stations will be offered. The estimate for operation of the complete system is about £600,000, which will provide for seven 50,000-watt units across the Dominion.

This year it is expected that work on organisation 'will take place and that possibly the first national broadcasting will take place next winter. Some of the large stations will at first be used in their present locations; then, as they are replaced by the powerful national units, will be moved to outlying districts. The bill will probably provide for the establishment of a national broadcasting company along the lines of tho Canadian National Railways, with a board of directors appointed by the Government. FOWERFUL STATIONS

The range of the new national stations is suggested by the fact that they will be 50,000 watt units. The most powerful stations now existent in Canada, are 5000-watt. The seven wave bands now used by Canada will be taken over entirely by the broadcasting company, together with such others as may be desired. Tt is believed that the bill will definitely enunciate the principle of Canada's right to any waveband, as the present allotment with the United States is merely a gentleman's agreement.

There are now (12 physical broadcasting stations in Canada and 16 phantom stations. Only three are said to be real value as initial units in the new system, and these will be outmoded when the big stations are built. Centralisation of control and decentralisation of operation will probably be the basic principle of the new system.

Advertising time will be sold over the national system, but there will bo rigid control. Long business announcements will be prohibited, and the advertising will be kept strictly subsidiary to the programme. .Sponsored programmes of national advertisers will be permitted, the proceeds helping to finance the system. Religious and political broadcasting will also lie permitted within well defined limits, but the administration of the system will be non-political.