RADIO DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 21195, 23 September 1930, Page 7

RADIO DISPUTE

CLUB AND 4ZP EXISTING AGREEMENT CANCELLED NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION FAILS The dispute which has arisen between the Southland Radio Club and Mr R. T. Parsons, proprietor of station 4ZP, was further discussed at a special meeting of members of the Southland Radio Club last night. There was a larger attendance, than when the first ‘meeting was held, there being over 150 members present. The president of the club (Mr A. W. Jones) occupied the chair. The chairman stated that since the previous meeting the , arbitrators appointed by the club a fortnight ago (Messrs J. H. Tattersfield and D. McEwan) had met and had submitted a written report. “We recommend that the present agreement be cancelled owing to the fact that it is not sufficiently clear and comprehensive,” stated .the report of the arbitrators. “We find upon investigation that the plant and equipment are satisfactory. The statement that the executive could not work satisfactorily with Mr Parsons is due to the faulty agreement. We recommend that in view of the fact that royalty charges are to take effect from October 1, a fresh comprehensive agreement will be necessary for future broadcasting.” At the request, of a member, the agreement between the club and Mr Parsons was read.

z Mr P. R. Miller said that the agreement was not all that was desired, and for the magnificent sum of £2O it could not be expected that a man could devote all his time to the work. He would move that the agreement be cancelled and that a new one be drawn up so that Mr Parsons should be paid for his services. The Royalty Charge. The report was received and Mr Miller’s motion that the agreement be cancelled was carried. The chairman said that in view of the fact that the royalty charge would come into force from the beginning . of next month he believed a committee of five, not necessarily of members of the executive, should be set up to go thoroughly into the matter. The club could not afford to undertake any large expenditure and if fourpence rvas to be charged for each record or piece of music, affected by copyright, the club might not find it possible to carry on in a very, active manner. A member asked if legal advice had been obtained what would be the consequences if the club ignored the demands of the Performing Rights Association. Mr McEwan asked why the club executive had not fulfilled its obligations regarding the broadcasting of concerts and church services. Mr Tattersfield said that in view of the fact that the old agreement had been cancelled it would be advisable if all old disputes were dropped. It was desirable that the strength of the club should be maintained in order that’ the club might have the support of a large number of listeners in any demands that might be made on the Government. Mr S. M. Macalister suggested that if members were dissatisfied with the executive they be given an opportunity to move a vote of no-confidence. No-Confidence in Executive. Mr Miller moved that the meeting had no confidence in the present executive and chairman. Mr D. Martin seconded. The chairman said that the club had been formed in March of this year and wonderful work had been done in building up a club with a membership of 544. The finance of the club was in a healthy state. He contended that, the record of the executive was a good one. All the members had done excellent work, but if they did not have the confidence of the members they were prepared to hand over the control of the club to a new committee. Mr L. Bates, of Dunedin, said that according to the published reports of the previous meeting aspersions had been cast on the equipment of the station. He asked if the executive was prepared to withdraw the statement.

The chairman said the executive was prepared to accept unreservedly the finding of the .arbitrators. Messrs S. M. Macalister and L. S. Alsweiler, members of the excutive, explained the position of the present executive. Mr Macalister said the executive had held too many meetings for him to attend all and he knew the members had done a tremendous amount of work. Motion Lost. The motion was put to a division and lost by an overwhelming majority. The chairman thanked the members for their expression of confidence. He suggested that a committee be set up to investigate the position thoroughly. Asked what was the policy of the club, the chairman- said the club was faced with a possibility of establishing a station of its own, or co-operating with a local business firm' which was prepared to establish a station. Now that the club was free of the agreement with Mr Parsons it could look out for the best agreement possible. A member said the listeners were getting very good service from 4ZP and the club should not go past Mr Parsons. Mr J. B. Reid said the executive was more familiar with the affairs than any outside committee and, therefore, be considered the present executive should go into the matter. '' The chairman said that be did not think the present, executive was prepared to continue to work with Mr Parsons, and it was in order 'that Mr Farsons should receive fair consideration that he was in favour of an outside committee. He suggested that the committee should consist of Messrs J. H. Tattersfield, J. B. Reid, L. 8. Alsweiler, C. Lockhart and Dr ■ 8. Brown. , , . ... Mr W. Thomas moved that a committee of five be set up. Mr Reid moved as an amendment tnat the present executive deal with the matter. The amendment was carried. The chairman advocated that the licensees of B class stations should receive a portion oL the listeners’ license fees in return for the service they were receiving. He moved that representations be made to the Government through the Southland members of Parliament and members of the Legislative Council for a proportion of the license fees paid by owners of radio gets in Southland who number approximately 1500. This was carried. A vote'of thanks wai tendered to the arbitrators for the work they had underchairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr R. T. Parsons for the work he had done towards furthering radio in Southland.