HOUSE DISCUSSES THE BROADCASTING SERVICE

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1950, Page 5

HOUSE DISCUSSES THE BROADCASTING SERVICE

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—Many and varied criticisms £)t the Broadcasting Service and suggestions for its improvement were voiced during discussion of the broadcasting vote in the House of Representatives today and tonight during the continued debate on the Estimates.

Mr McKeen (Opp., Island Bay) said that some features broadcast over the commercial stations had been running so long they should qualify for social security. Between 7 p.ni. and 8.15 p.m. on a recent day h e heard six serials.

Mr Johnstone (Govt., Raglan) said that much rubbish heard from the stations cost dollars. He favoured an extension of hours, but not to broadcast rubbish which cost hard currency. There was ample good material available without dollar expenditure. Mr Moohan (Opp., Petone) also complained that some serials from the IZB stations never seemed to end. He thought that ample local talent was available and should be more freely used in programmes. Mr Kidd (Govt., Waimate) said that too many radio programmes featured murders. This was a bad influence on children and such programmes should be curtailed.

The Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Doidge), answering points raised in the debate, said it was 4rue he had, when in Opposition, advocated a reduction in the licence fee of 255, but he had taken over the administration at a time when the service was ceasing to make a profit and development of new services was still making heavy demands on the reserves that had been built up. The new type of alternative programme was now available in three cities, and w’ould be extended to Dunedin shortly. These programmes were completely free of jazz, but there were other programmes still catering for these who appreciated modern music. Mr Doidge said that steps had recently been taken to offset the deficit which had occurred in tt#? Broadcasting Service during the past year. Advertising rates on the air and in the New Zealand “Listener” had been raised. Many new developments were under consideration, and planning was required so that television could be provided within a reasonable time. The Minister said the Broadcasting Service was now costing more tbtm £1,000,000 a year. Listeners paid only about three farthings a day, and for that they received good value. Although revenue was increasing it did not keep pace with rising costs. Mr Aderman (Govt., New Plymouth) said that he was surprised that so much time should be taken up by young people listening to serials, and in order to remove that temptation from them when they should be concentrating on their school homework, he suggested that radio stations broadcast their serials earlier in the day. He said he could not understand why some serials, which were a “conglomeration of shooting and that sort of thing,” were broadcast. Mr Freer (Opp., Mt. Albert) said that some school-teachers had told him that the more backward of their pupils could tell them more about radio serials than the brighter scholars.

“That looking intid,” he said. He thought that radio serials should be more closely screened and that New Zealand writers should be given the opportunity to produce a type which would be more suitable than some of those at present broadcast. Mr Freer congratulate the department on the progressive steps made in improving radio programmes, but there was still thp need for one or more stations to provide a continuous musical programme right throughout the day.

Mr McCombs (Opp., Lyttelton) said that New Zealanders wanted to listen to serials. There were some which could be rewritten and improved, but the great bulk of them were listened to by the public. “The thing I’m astounded at is that the Broadcasting Service should buy records made by peonle who can’t sing.” he said. Mr McKeen asked why was it that certain records broadcast could not be bought at the dealers’ stores. He I bought that the Minister of Bro casting and the Minister of Industries and Commerce should look into the position concerning the importation of records to see whether the public could he given the ooportunitv of purchasing what records it wanted.