Thames Star THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1935. BROADCASTING CONTROL.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19363, 21 March 1935, Page 2

Thames Star

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1935. BROADCASTING CONTROL.

"With malice towards none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.”—Lincoln.

The Government’s decision to alter the clause in the Broadcasting Amendment Bill so as to give the Broadcasting Board only a general supervisory authority over the activities of B stations, can be commended. The proposal to charge tho board with the task of controlling programmes from B stations in minute detail was objectionable in that it might have caused the board much embarrassment. If it is desirable that the B stations should continue, and on this point there is room for difference of opinion, it is as well that they should have reasonable freedom. The Government’s other amendment to the Bill, which provides for the appointment of two members of the Broadcasting Board from nominees of organisations “recognised by the Postmaster-Gen-eral as being representative of holders of receiving licenses,” is a retrograde step. It will not make tho Board any more responsive to the wishes and interests of listeners, because the great majority of listen' ers are unorganised. All it means is that the Government’s choice of members qualified to assist in the management of the national broadcasting system will be restricted. Organisations of listeners are represented on the present advisory council; and if the members appointed are . any indication of the genera] calibre of the nominees it need not be expected that the listeners’ representatives on the new Broadcasting Board will be very useful.