BENEFITS OF RADIO

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19106, 29 August 1936, Page 15

BENEFITS OF RADIO

STIMULUS TO THOUGHT COMMUNITY RR OR LEMS NEW DIRECTOR’S VIEWS (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Ibis day. “I think the world is only beginning to realise the social value of radio. Radio is only beginning to struggle out of its period of childhood. It has in all conntries been too much in the nature ot a variety entertainment,” declared. Professor Shelley, in bis first interview since his appointment as the director ot broadcasting. Professor Shelley said lie looked on radio as ail instrument, in very much the same way as lie- looked on books ami printing as instruments in tbe hands oi the community. Those powerful instruments could be used tor good or evil, or they could be used as mere toys. “The time has come when radio cab be used as a stimulus to raise the slandards of thought and of artistic appreciation in the whole community. be continued. “Whether the people as a whole are equal to 1 lie demands of the age in the way of sympathetic undcistanding of modern problems remains to be seen', but at least, they can no longer deny that they have access to such understanding. CONVERSATIONAL METHOD Many subjects laid remained the. .preserve of a few specialists, because ideas had become combed in technical and difficult language in books, said Professor Shelley. Their interest never bait been sufficiently stimulated to stir them to overcome these difficulties, but even the most difficult subject of human inquiry could be introduced to tbe man on the street, in a living way. bv tbe use of the conversational method ol radio. People found both interesting and intellect millv exciting the expression of ideas over the air, which they would never dream ol searching tor in books. “The possibilities ot radio uie so stupendous that anyone who lias the job of directing its use must feel humble and inadequate,” added Professor Shelley.

He said that before he came to any conclusion as to what be would like to do in detail lie would survey the whole field and put forward to the Minister a comprehensive scheme. lhe scheme might take years to put- completely into effect, but the changes, of course, womd be made consistently as opportunity arose in the direction of building up a complete structure.