CONTROL OF B STATIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 172, 3 July 1936, Page 7

CONTROL OF B STATIONS.

Mr. Savage States Government’s Aim. : OWN THEM ALL. V C’ ; -IQ •’ o -' '• • ‘ V»' '■)f. '! Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, July 2. A declaration that the Government's object was to assume control of all B | stations was made by the Prime Minister, I the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, to-day, speakjing as Minister ox Broadcasting. Mr. | Savage added that there was no inteni tion on the part of the Government to 1 inflict any injustice upon the owners of j stations, and it was the Government’s dejsire to do the fair thing by owners. He j made it clear that he would have no ob- | jection to resorting to arbitration in the I event of the price fixed by the Governl nient valuers not being acceptable to the j sellers, but he pointed out that in the | event of arbitration he would brook no I delay.

Mr. Savage said it was the intention of the Government to meet the owners of B stations with the object of making satisfactory arrangements. “We must have a valuation of the plant, but in addition to that we must also have a valuation of the service which stations give,” he said. “We have no intention of being mean or doing an injustice. At the same time we cannot be over-generous with other people’s money. If a station objects to the Government’s purchasing it then all the facts will be taken into consideration in arranging the subsidy to be paid.”

Mr. Savage said the reason for wanting to take over all stations was the Government’s desire to have the whole broadcasting service of New Zealand nationalised. “We want to purchase all E stations if we can, but we do not want to force them into that position. If they do not want to sell thc*r will be subsidised for the service they give.