MR ULM’S FLIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20480, 5 December 1934, Page 5

MR ULM’S FLIGHT.

Reasons for Broadcast Refusal. BOARD'S ATTITUDE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 4. The question of why the Broadcasting Board is not arranging to broadcast progress news of Mr C. T. P. Ulm’s flight across the Pacific was answered by Mr E. C. Hands, general manager of the board, who has been visiting Auckland. Mr Hands stated that Mr Ulm’s representative approached the board on this matter some months ago. A sum of £250 for the right to broadcast messages from the aeroplane was first mentioned. In the meantime Sir Charles Kingsford Smtih had flown across the Pacific and the news value of Mr Ulm’s flight had been considerably reduced. It was thought also that the chances of maintaining anything like a satis factory service from the aeroplane were remote and would not warrant the cost involved. Messages from<%geroplanes were realty international messages and had to pass through an official channel. The board had to pay the Post and Telegraph Department for the work done in picking up such messages and this often amounted to a fair sum because more than one receiving point was necessary. Negotiations Broken Off. The final demand by Mr Ulm’s representative for an exclusive fee of £SO for a talk by Mr Ulm on his arrival at Auckland led to the breaking off of negotiations, said Mr Hands. Such broadcasts are no longer novelties and fancy prices could not be paid. Asked to comment on the complaint from the “Friendly Road” station that it was not to be allowed to broadcast this flight, Mr Hands said that his board was in no way concerned with B stations.