Better Radio Services Likely

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 102, 21 July 1927, Page 1

Better Radio Services Likely

MINISTER’S ASSURANCE

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE

(THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

Pertinent questions respecting the control of broadcasting, and the position of “Uncle Jack,’’ were asked in the House of Representatives by Mr. M. J. Savage, to whom the PostmasterGeneral replied: “In accordance with the provisions of the Post and Telegraph Amendment Act, 1924, the Government entered into a five years’ contract with the Broadcasting Company for the latter to undertake broadcasting services in the Dominion. The company is bound by the regulations on the subject, and by the terms of the contract, to carry out a reasonably satisfactory service. Actually, the company is under adequate Government control in the matter of broadcasting. “The position is being watched very carefully, and I am satisfied that up to the present the company has given a reasonably good service consistent with the amount of revenue at'its disposal. The company's income for the present financial year will be about double that of last year, consequently listeners can look forward to a greatly improved service forthwith. “Mr. Prentice was a servant of the Broadcasting Company, and it is understood that he resigned from his position. The Government has no further information on the subject.” “RUBBER STAMP" MINISTRY

Ministerial replies to questions asked concerning radio broadcasting drew some caustic remarks from Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South). “We have never had a Ministry which had such a set of rubber stamps as the present Ministry has,” said Mr. Howard. “Replies to questions are merely departmental, and at the present moment we are absolutely under the heads of departments, and Ministers are not running the country at all. Members are surely entitled to the courtesy due to them as representatives of thousands of people.” Mr. Howard indicated that he would have something further to say on the question of radio when the Estimates were before the House. Mr. Howard had raised the question of wave lengths, and asked why New Zealand was placed so close to Australia. The Postmaster-General, the Hon. W* Nosworthy, said the New Zealand wave lengths had been recast, and the following band was decided on: Christchurch, 306 metres; Auckland, 333 metres; Wellington, 420 metres; Dunedin, 463 metres. “It will be found that there is a wide separation in kilocycles between each of the. foregoing Wave lengths, and between the wave lengths of the New Zealand and Australian stations,” he said, “and it. is understood that the present allocation is giving great satisfaction.” Opportunities for discussing proposals for complete Governmentcontrolled broadcasting were promised by Mr. Nosworthy.