NOT YET DECIDED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18992, 17 April 1936, Page 8

NOT YET DECIDED

BROADCASTING POLICY EXPERIMENTS PROPOSED BOARD'S REPORT DEBATED B STATIONS' POSITION (Vor Prass Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. _ In the House of Representatives this afternoon the annual report of the NewZealand Broadcasting Board for the year ended December 31 last was discussed. Mr. J. A. Lee (Lab., Grey Lynn) said the Prime Minister, during the election campaign had said that B stations would iiave to be given an opportunity of earning revenue, or Hie Government would have to supply them from Stale revenue. Mr. Lee said that if B stations were allowed to advertise they would give listeners a service at the expense of the advertisers, and at no cost to the listeners. He thought it might be advisable in the meantime that the Government should not declare any set policy, but should try an experiment or two.'and retain the right to step in at any moment in the national interest. The Government would, however, see Ihnf the Minister, and not the board. was responsible for the broadcasting

service. Mr. Clyde Carr (Lab., Tirnarn) said lie thought the board had given a rather better account of itself than previously, but he would not say it had justified its, existence. The board had extended it.; service, so that it was giving quantity if not quality. He criticised the board for endeavouring to improve the technical equipment before attempting to improve the actual broadcasts, the things that actually counted. lie said it was not correct that the best musical talent (hat New Zealand could produce had been available to the board. He doubted ii the best musical talent would make iiself available under the present conditions imposed by the board. ADVERTISING DANGEROUS

Mr. S. G. Smith (Nat,, New Plymouth) said the. fact that the number of licenses had increased all over the Dominion showed there was a growing interest in broadcasting in New Zealand, lie did not believe, in advertising over the air, but he did appreciate sponsored programmes. He thought that at times sponsored programmes were as good as the programmes from the national stations, lie thought, that advertising over The air was dangerous, and they did not want anything of that sort in New Zealand. He'regretted that the Government bad not yet made known its policy concerning broadcast rug. Ho was in favour of B stations and wanted to sec (hem encouraged. Mr. Smith said he wanted the Government to help B stations more tlian they had been helped in the past, and to keep nroadensting free from political control,

Mr. L. J. [Toward (Lab., Obeli. S.) criticised the blocking of an Auckland B station. He said it could be, beard over a limited area only, and he asked the Opposition to give an explanation of the happening. The Rt. Hon. J. G. ('bates said thai the Friendly Road station was immediately given an opportunity to put its message over from the national station. Mr. Howard said that that was not the first time it bad occurred, and he like an explanation.

REDUCTION OF FEES Mr. Howard advocated a further reduction in license fees by at least ss. lie urged special consideration for amateur transmitters, and also that greater attention should he paid to short-wave broadeasting. He asked what the board was doing in the direction of stopping racketeering over copyrights and performing rights, and so protecting the people. Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Nat.. Riccarton) considered the board had improved broadcasting in New Zealand, and he urged greater assistance for B stations. The lion. P. Jones. PostmaslerCeneral. said that he was quite prepared to lake tin- matter of n reduction in amateurs' fees up with the board, lie had had repeated representations made lo him.regarding the establishment of a short-wave radio station in New Zealand, and he thought it would he valuable to the Dominion, and the programmes which it could broadcast, would he acceptable in other countries. He thought the hoard would consider the matter. He believed that the establishment ot a station for Parliamentary broadcasts would ultimately come, as broadcasts of debates so far had been favourably commented upon and listeners were asking for more. The Government was out to give service so far as broadcasting was concerned, and it was anxious to bring the service inic. the homos so far as it possibly could. SERVICE TO SCHOOLS

The Finister said the board's revenue amounted to £182,000. He referred to the good work being done in giving service to schools. He said he thought, encouragement should be given to local talent. The board was also endeavouring to encourage New Zealand composers, so

it. was progressing on the right lines, and he hoped to see it continue on those lines. The Government did not, want to Ret rid of B stations, which had done much valuable pioneering work, and the Government would give them every consideration. The election promises- would be carried out. ■ ' Mr. F. W. Schramm (Lab.. Auckland E.) urged that some M stations should be allowed to advertise under certain safeguards. Mr. W. J. Lyon (Lab.. Waitemata) .said that judging by ships' passenger lists. New Zealand had some interest to Australians, and lie thought useful publicity could be achieved by broadcasting. He "also thought that lectures on the Maori language and folk lore would have a definite interest and an educative value to listeners.

Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Lab., S. Maori) supported the. suggestion that lectures on Maori subjects be broadcast, and said that advertising! as carried out by the Australian stations was very amusing. Mr. A. S. Richards (Lab., Roskill) urged that a limited number of sponsored programmes and a limited amount of advertising should be allowed. He thought that the competition between A and U stations was responsible for the improvement in A stations' programmes. MODERN PUBLICITY The Prime Minister, the Hon. M. .). Savage, said that people were entitled to know what was Impelling in New Zealand, and what, the newspapers refused to give radio stations would give. There was no mistaking that the B stations would live, but whether they advertised, or would be subsidised, bad not been decided. Broadcasting was the most up-to-date means of publicity, and it would be developed, lie recognised that certain vested interests were concerned who did not want listeners to hear advertising, but did not object to them reading advertisements in newspapers. He bad heard'much bunkum talked about advertising over the air, but be would not. say whether the stations would be allowed to advertise or not. If broadcasting was the best means of publicity for otber things, was it not also the best means of publicity for advertising? New Zealand wanted to keep in touch with modern thought, and exchange opinions with other countries, and if it could be done by broadcasting, it would be. done. He agreed that Parliamentary broadcasting should not be restricted to two or three speakers, but the Government desired to start carefully without unduly affecting listeners who desired to listen'to music or otber things. ONUS ON GOVERNMENT

The new station in Wellington, concluded Mr. .Savage, would probably assist in developing Parliamentary broadcasting. He bad not received one letter opposing the broadcasting of debates, and lie. thought that people wanted to' know what was- happening in Parliament. 11 (he people could hear what was being said, they could judge for themselves. The Government had to decide what was Hip, best means of developing the most modern means of publicity, and the onus was on the Government of providing that, and carry worthwhile news to the people in their homes and children in schools. •

The Government, was not. going to stand where, it was, but. was going on, ami was looking forward to the time when there would be a receiving set in every home. Perhaps the vested interests would not like that, perhaps the broadcasting interests would not, like if. but time would tell, and he assured the country that, it was going to be carried out. When people received what others had by right, they would be able to secure'the. most 'up-to-date means of publicity. Mr. T. IT. McCombs (Labour, Lyttelton), suggested that B stations should be limited and that they should be allowed to advertise as they pleased. He said it . advertising grew to such an extent that I it became boring to listeners, they would not pay for it. In that' way a check would be kept on advertising. He suggested also that B station licenses should be auctioned.