The Wanganui Chronicle. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1943. RADIO TALENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 203, 28 August 1943, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 1943. RADIO TALENT

|T is impossible to say whether it is necessary or not to increase the powers of the Minister of Broadcasting in order that he may be in a position to develop new talent for the radio service. .1 rue enough, there is room for improvement in the radio services of New Zealand, but this is not surprising seeing that the lemuneration for artists is on the low side. The low remuneration for practical purposes limits the field to artists living within easy range of the four centres, or able to combine contributions to u*dio programmes with other business in order to make it profitable to attend a radio station for the purpose of contributing to the programmes. Artists of established reputation have been ottered inadequate fees and in some instances, despite their having broadcast satisfactorily on previous occasions, have been required again to go to Wellington for a trial audition. The fees being inadequate for those who do broadcast and this being known, the better-class artists never even think of applying to contribute, to the programmes. It never seems to occur to the broadcasting authorities to seek out people who could make a contribution to the programmes and invite them to undertake work for the broadcasting service. There is need for a more intelligent search for talent, but if life search is to be confined to that portion of the population which lives within easy reach of the broadcasting stations, then the new powers conferred on the Minister of Broadcasting do not promise to prove very fruitful of good results.