LISTENERS-IN SPEAK UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 1

LISTENERS-IN SPEAK UP

Better Programmes Sought

DEPUTATION TO MR. DONALD

AUCKLAND radio enthusiasts consider they are not receiving justice from the New Zealand Broadcasting Company. Station IYA is severely criticised for the “mediocre programmes, lacking in variety and novelty, put over the air by the same artists.” Listeners-in contend they are not receiving quid pro quo for the revenue the company collects from their licence fees.

Grievances of Auckland set-owners were announced by the Listeners-in League at loud-speaker strength by a deputation to the PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. J. B. Donald, who was an interested “listener.” The deputation was headed by Mr. A. C. Jacob, president of the league, who outlined the listeners-in complaints and efforts to secure satisfactory results. Complaining of the broadcasting company’s lack of showmanship, Mr. G. Mcß. Salt, secretary, commented that the announcement of the names ; of performing artists had been dis- ' continued. This, he suggested, was j due to the fact that the same crowd were “on the air” too often. The j programmes were mediocre and com- | pletely lacking in novelty and varii ety. The revenue derived from Auckj land listeners, he said, was greater j than from any other centre, being j approximately twice as much as in ] Christchurch and four times more | than in Dunedin. Yet the programmes | broadcast here were inferior to those in Southern centres. Tire BroadeastI ing Company had promised listenersin quid pro quo in proportion to the revenue, hut this undertaking has i never been fulfilled. Nothing could be done locally without reference to . Christchurch. ADVISORY BOARD WANTED | The apointment of an advisory ; board, as promised by the Hon. j. jG. Coates and Mr. McNamara two ’ years ago, which had not yet mate- ; rialised, was strongly urged by Mr. Salt. A body representative of the i Broadcasting Company, the Government and the listeners-in was necesj sary to exercise control over broadj casting activities. It was pointed out j that the broadcasting company had j set up a local advisory committee, but at the time nsteners-in were not represented on the body. Even now there was only one member on the committee, and he was not an active listener!

Mr. Salt considered that there should be a luncheon hour broadcasting session to facilitate dealers demonstrating sets, thus increasing the sale, and producing more revenue, ■with resultant improved programmes. ANOMALOUS TREATMENT Removal of an anomaly in the Act operating against amateur transmitters was urged by Mr. Arthur. Amateur experimenters have to pay a licence fee of £2 2s, compared with 30s required of the listener-in. In addition, the former were compelled to meet a 5 s fee for an operator’s licence, which had to be obtained by examination. These experimenters could perform useful service in time of national crisis. BALANCE-SHEET URGED The Broadcasting Company should be compelled to publish an annual balance-sheet, declared Mr. H. Tiarks, who requested the Postmaster-Gen-eral to exercise his discretionary powers to this end. The listeners did not seek this information out of idle curiosit}’, he said, but to satisfy themselves that the company was providing quid pro quo for the revenue received. Intervention by the Minister to end the deadlock between the Broadcasting Company and the City Council over broadcasting of concerts by the municipal band was also urged. The league deputation adopted a neutral attitude in fixing the blame for the impasse, and the Minister promised he would see what could be done to remedy the trouble. Throughout the session the Post-master-General was a good listener, and members of the deputation afterwards expressed every satisfaction with the consideration shown them. They departed confident that no further negotiations will be entered into with the Broadcasting Company unless the listeners-in are heard. A written reply to the league’s complaints was promised by Mr. Donald.