The Government’s Offers

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 8

The Government’s Offers

AMOUNTS THOUGHT INADEQUATE (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 23. The Minister in Charge of Broadcasting (the Hon. F. Jones) stated today that a deputation of representatives of B station interests had waited upon the acting Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) and himself as a result of the offers recently made by the Government for the acquisition of private broadcasting stations. Messrs Green, Mac Kay and Walls stated the case for the B stations and, after pointing out the services they had rendered to the community, contended that the amounts recently offered by the Government for their stations were inadequate. In reply both the acting Prime Minister and Mr Jones had pointed out that the Government was desirous of being fair to the B stations and was, therefore, prepared, if the owners were dissatisfied with the amounts offered to submit the questions to arbitration. The individual owners were also offered an opportunity of discussing the matter on a basis of the offers made, and the Ministers readily agreed to an extension of the time if this were desired for the consideration of offers. In reply to a question whether the Government would subsidize such of the B stations as were not acquired, the Ministers replied that subsidies would be granted only where justified in the light of the requirements of the broadcasting service as a whole. While it was made clear that the Government desired that broadcasting should be a national undertaking it was indicated that no compulsion to sell would be exercised upon the owners of private stations.

Mr Jones further stated that certain B stations had already accepted the Government’s offers to purchase, and that it was expected that because of the' negotiations now proceeding other stations would, take the opportunity of disposing of their undertakings.