FUTURE OF B STATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 22913, 11 June 1936, Page 4

FUTURE OF B STATIONS

Protection From The Government COPYRIGHT FEES (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, June 10. The protection to be afforded to B stations and the possibility of the appointment of a Minister of Broadcasting were discussed to-night by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an Interview. The question of copyright fees for items broadcast by B stations had received considerable attention recently, Mr Savage said. When the Broadcasting Bill became law all the B stations would be subsidized by the Government which in consequence, would have some say about payment to outside interests. In the matter of the payment of fees to the Performing Rights Association and firms holding patents, he understood that the Government had undertaken responsibility for those stations which had received subsidies in the past. Under the Bill all the B stations would be subsidized, and outside interests, in making claims for broadcasting rights, would have to deal direct with the Government. Position of Equality. The matter had not been fully investigated yet, but it would doubtless be the subject of negotiations in the near future, said Mr Savage. It could be taken as definite that the private B stations would be placed on a position of equality with those which already received subsidies. “The Bill makes provision, if necessary, for the ..ppointment of a special Minister of Broadcasting,” Mr Savage said. “So far this question has not been fully discussed by Cabinet, and as yet it is impossible tp, say whether a new Minister will be appointed or whether- an existing member of Cabinet will be charged with the responsibility of administering broadcasting matters. Until a decision is made, the Postmas-ter-General (the Hon. F. Jones) will be in charge of broadcasting.”