BROADCASTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19672, 14 December 1933, Page 7

BROADCASTING

RETENTION OF A SERVICE DELUGE OF REQUESTS By Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, December 13. In the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr F. Lye (C., Waikato), asked the Prime Minister, whether in view of the fact that Members of Parliament were being inundated with letters from correspondents urging the reinstatement of the “Friendly Road broadcasting services, he would give an indication of the Government’s policy so as to make unnecessary a continuation of the correspondence, the acknowledgement of which w r as causing members so much concern and work.

“I can appreciate the difficulties of members,” Mr Forbes replied, “but the solution of the problem is not so simple as might appear. I understand that the ‘Friendly Road’ organisation has been offered an opportunity of continuing on the air in conjunction with other church services. This has not been accepted, and the request now is for a separate broadcasting station for this particular organisation. This is a very serious step in broadcasting, and one that later on might have farreaching effects, especially when applications come in from other similar organisations. The whole matter is still having consideration with a view* of seeing whether a satisfactory arrangement can be made, and it is hoped to give an indication of the Government s intentions at an early date. ’ “I would like to take this opportunity of expressing regret at the inability of the staff of my office, owing to the extreme pressure of work entailed b\ the parliamentary session, to undertake the preparation of the separate acknowledgement of the receipt of 2,620 letters on this subject, which 1 have received to date,” Mr Forbes added, “and I can only ask these correspondents to accept this general acknowledgement of the receipt of their letters.” (Laughter.)