BROADCASTING POLICY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21188, 8 November 1938, Page 6

BROADCASTING POLICY

NO IMMEDIATE CHANGE By Telearaph—Press Association WELLINGTON, November 7. Broadcasting was discussed by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview this evening. The future policy, he said, would be generally the same as that observed at present. He regarded radio as one of the most influential institutions of modern times, more particularly for its use in the broadcasting of proceedings in Parliament. Speeches in the House of Representatives, said Mr Savage, would be broadcast in future as they had been during the past two sessions of Parliament. He knew from communications he had received from all parts of the Dominion that the broadcasting of Parliamentary debates was appreciated. A short wave transmitting station would ultimately be installed in the broadcasting centre it was intended to build on a site at the back of Parliament Buildings, provision being made in the plans of the centre for such a station. Work on the centre would proceed to a definite plan as the Government found itself in a position to do it. Mr Savage said that it was not only a question of money, but also one of labour. A great deal had to be done in building in other directions, such as the provision of homes for the people, and the Government did not want to tie up this work by utilising labour that could be more profitably used on it in the meantime. It was more desirable to build up a firstclass service, and then to think of reducing the license fee afterwards, said Mr Savage, when asked if any reduction in the presen. fee of 25/- a year were contemplated. “The increasing number of listeners indicates that the 25/- license fee is not preventing people from enjoying the benefits of broadcasting,” he said.