From the Mailbag

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20106, 27 March 1928, Page 6

From the Mailbag

RADIO PROGRAMMES Sir. —“Radio” and “Listener** both write on a matter which did not enter into my argument concerning tho programmes presented by the New Zealanu Broadcasting Co. Ltd. 1 take the stand that the programmes we get for our 30s a year are good value, but I realise that it is impossible to please everybody. The Broadcasting Co., ha* to arrange over 1200 evening programmes a year in addition to afternoon sessions, children’s sessions and pecial sports sessions. It is a for murable job and when one considers the limited amount of talent available, ft seems to me a matter of congratulation that we listeners are so well provided for. The 30s works out at approximately one penny a night, and lor this penn y we have lour programmes to choose from, with the extra sessions thrown in. What the company does with the money it receives from licensees is another matter and one that 1 am not particularly interested in so long as the improvement in the conce’.s is maintained. A.R.DONALDSON. Wanganui, March 26.

Si r> —Do radio licensees pay the an* nual fee of 30s a year for the privilege of listening-in to the programmes arranged by the New Zealand Broadcasting Company, and does the payment give them the right to a say in tho management of the company? In my opinion listeners have the right to criticise the programmes we receive, nnd if tho company is wise it will heed constructive criticism; hut I am in doubt as to whether we have any other privileges. Some of us are regular patrons of the theatre and it costs us a good deal more than the radio license fee, but we do not form an organisation to harass the management of the theatre proprietors. The argument is used that because the Government collects the license fees and in other ways helps the Broadcasting Company, the company is a public one, and that, for that reason licensees should hrve a say in ;he management of the concern; but the Government’s duty in the matter as far as I can see, is to control the erection of wireless plants so that “the dissemination of the worst kind of propaganda cannot be undertaken by any group or groups.” As a consequence legislation had to be passed to compel owners of sets to register their plants, and this the Government has done. I understand also that the Government contributed to the cost of the establishment of the Wellington station on condition that a powerful plant, was installed, so that in times of emergency the plant could be used by the Government for national purposes. It seems to me that as the Government is so vitally interested in the Broadcasting Company’s affairs, that it is safe to say that the management of the concern will be carefully watched, and that we listeners should only concern ourselves with practicable suggestions for improving the programmes. VERNIER. Wanganui. Alarch 26. THE TOWN BRIDGE Sir, —Mr Belches must be incorrect in his date (1875). 1 arrived in the colony in 1876 and a few months later 1 came to Wanganui. I was rowed across the river by a friend to avoid the toll and when returning myself and friend climbed the gate but deposited our pennies in the box. Nearly two years after I rode across the bridge and paid my 6d to Air Laird (?) who 1 believe had the toll at that time. C. W. LEE. St. John’s Hill, Alarch 26.