RADIO NOTES

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3468, 19 May 1934, Page 11

RADIO NOTES

LISTENERS’ FEES NO REDUCTION POSSIBLE OFFICIAL REPLY TO RESOLUTIONS That it is not possible to reduce the radio license fee which is paid annually by New Zealand listeners is stated by the Postmaster-General (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), in a letter replying to resolutions which were carried unanimously at a public meeting of listeners held in Christchurch on March 28th. The Postmaster-General also states that he is unable to allow advertising matter to he broadcast, and that be does not consider that it would be of advantage to have an elective board placed in control of broadcasting.

The statements are specific replies to the resolutions carried at the meeting, which was addressed by several speakers, including Mrs E. R. McCombs, M.P., Messrs E. J. Howard, M.P., H. T. Armstrong, M.P., and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer). The resolutions were carried unanimously. The reply was as follows: —

“(1) The Government has decided that the broadcasting service must not be used for the purpose of advertising or commercial publicity. This decision is the result of close consideration of the systems in vogue in other countries, where broadcasting has been so employed. The conclusion has been reached that such a practice has had a definite tendency towards lowering the general standard of broadcasting, and that the use of radio for advertising purposes is not in the best internes ts of listeners. It is therefore deemed undesirable that any facilities in that direction should be provided in the broadcasting service of this country.

“(2) The present method of control of broadcasting is considered to be the most advantageous from the point of view of the listeners. It is not thought that there would be sufficient unanimity on the part of radio listeners to enable a boai’d to be elected which would be likely to function satisfactorily in the interests of broadcasting. It has to be pointed out that there is much difference of opinion among listeners regarding the most appropriate matter that should be broadcast, and a board elected as proposed would be likely to represent points of view which would be too diverse to enable the service to he conducted as a national unity.

“(3) The primary function oi radio broadcasting has been deemed to be of an entertainment and educative character; and to that end the Government has endeavoured to prevent the service from being utilised as a medium for the dissemination of propaganda or controversial matter. It is not agreed that there is any true parallel between the service of broadcasting and the dissemination of news by way of newspapers. The use of radio for political and controversial subjects would, it is thought, tend to depreciate the value and popularity of broadcasting, and at the same time would be likely to provide prolific ground for complaint on the part of listeners.

“(4) The programme of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board has been framed upon the anticipation of radio receiving licenses being maintained at the rate of £1 10/- per annum. The board has very large commitments and to make any reduction in the annual fee for receiving licenses would have the effect of greatly embarrassing it in carrying out a programme of works which is designed to benefit the whole body of the listeners.”