RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 5 (Supplement)

RADIO

TALKS WITH LONDON. | “LISTENERS’ LEAGUE” AIMS. The smallness of the world in the radio sense was well illustrated yesterday morning when the two-way radio telephone communication between the captain of the New Zealand cricketers ■and Wellington was broadcast. Unfortunately the attempt on Thursday, morning was a failure, but yesterday’s attempt was quite a success. It is at times such as this that the possession of a radio receiver is more a necessity than a luxury if one does not wish to feel behind, the times. There appeared in the papers during the week a letter by the organiser of the so-called New; Zealand Listeners’ League. It seemed rediculous to think that anyone conversant with the broadcast system should take seriously such statements as appeared in the letter referred to. t The allegations of huge profits by the R.B.C. is absurd. The company is restricted by the. terms of the agreement with the Government to 7 per cent, •interest on the capital invested, the balance tp be expended on station maintainance and programmes. The only one who seems to be making the profits is the P. and T. Department. . It gets 2s Out of each license, which at 60,000 licenses represents a very fine sum for which the department returns the listener' practically nothing. It barely ad- ' ministers the Radio Act so far as looking for pirate listeners is concerned. Oscillating receivers are beneath notice. The department receive a considerable sum of the license fees back again for the Use bf relay lines, in which it has a monopoly. When it is considered that 2YB has to pay nearly £5O per annum for the two or three short lines which arc used for relay purposes, the department must teceive several thousands. of pounds from the R.B.C. for the lines used. These lines require no service from exchange operators etc., nor arc telephone instruments required. The department is doing pretty well out of broadcasting,-a fact that is not mentioned by the writer of the letter.

.This “listeners’ league” had its foundation in Dunedin, when certain small B stations there were in . difficulties oyer the royalty question with the Australian Performing Rights Association. Those interested in the conduct 'of these small business station called a meeting of listeners with a view to getting the listeners’ support in their efforts to either have a fund of the listeners (that is, the license fees) raided for their benefit or to ask for permission to broadcast advertising matter. That they succeeded may have been due to eloquence of the speakers or “mob I psychology.” A few extracts from the report of their first meeting will indicate to listeners that these few who are claiming to represent the general body of listeners deserve no support from the listeners of this district or elsewhere. The organiser, it is understood, is connected with" the trade stations association, which was formed to combat the claims of the A.P.R.A. ' The following are extracts from the report of the initial meeting in Dunedin:— ' If the B stations were going to survive, advertising would have to do it. An additional license fee, unless a sliding scale for valve and crystal set owners were instituted, would not be equitable. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr. Booth then moved the following additional resolution:—“That this meeting also resolves that an endeavour be made to find some means of assisting the B class sations to meet the demands of the Australasian Performing Right Association, Ltd., and to carry out effect-I ively the objects of this resolution, it i is resolved that an association be formed j to be called ‘New Zealand Radio Listeners’ League,’ the objects of which will be to carry out the wishes expressed at this meeting and to act generally in the interests of listeners.” Mr. H. E. Barth seconded the motion. Mr. N. Braithwaite supported Mr. McEwen’s suggestion in regard to sponsored programmes, and suggested that the Copyright Act might be amended. Mr. S. Lockhart, representing the Southland Radio Club, said that he con»<i4ared the association’s ultimatum to

ibe a blessing in disguise if it resulted in the listeners of the Dominion joining in an organised effort. He personally was strongly in favour of the formation of a league, and the meeting could rest assured that it would have the strongest support from Southland listeners. Tis motion was also carried without dissent. Mr. Booth pointed out that the new league must have funds, and it was final- - ly decided that the subscription should be 2s 6d per annum, practically everyone present signifying his intention of •joining. ' Another motion —“That this meeting supports the B stations in their efforts to obtain the right to broadcast advertising matter”- —was also, cariicd. BROADCAST ON WEDNESDAY. A special programme dedicated to New Zealand listeners from station WSXAn will be relayed by IYA and 3YA at 10.1 a p.m. next Wednesday. The _ station operates on a wave-length of 49.5 metres (0060 kc.) with a power of 10 kw. lhe . plant, which is situated at Mason. Ohio, is operated by the Crosley Radio Corporation. Its approximate operating ' schedule in Greenwich meridian tipie is : as follows;—11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.; . 6.30 p.m., to 8.30 p.m., 11.30 p.m., to 6.30: a.m. It is usually heard in New Zea-, land between 5.30‘ p.m. and 7.30 p.m. ’ The station is the high-frequency sub- ' sidiary of WLW (700 kc.) and WSAI (330 kc.). ’ 3YA Christchurch is/o have a Military Night” on Monday, and the listcnr ers are promised something good.