TO-DAY’S PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18808, 2 December 1932, Page 8

TO-DAY’S PARLIAMENT

BROADCASTING PETITION. POSITION OF B CLASS STATIONS. COMMITTEE FAVOURABLE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 o’clock this morning. The Public Petitions’ Committee reporting on a petition from B class broadcasting stations recommended that the alternative prayer of the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration.

The petitioners asked that they should be given a share of the revenue from license fees, or alternatively, that an unlimited number of sponsored programmes should be allowed. Mr M. J. Savage (Labour —Auckland West) expressed gratification at the committee’s report. He said he would have been prepared to support the petitioners’ request for a share of the revenue from license fees, but the committee had not recommended that. He thanked -the committee, however, for recommending that an unlimited number of sponsored programmes should be allowed.

The Postmaster-General, the Hon, A. Hamilton: They are allowed now. Mr Savage: No, they are not.

Air Savage pointed out that stations were allowed to state the programme was being broadcasted by “John Jones,”, which meant little, but if they were allowed to state the programme was being broadcasted by “John Jones, hoot manufacturers, of Auckland,” it would mean everything. It would indicate who was responsible for the programme and would lay the foundation for decent programmes being provided. Mr Savage submitted that if the petitioners’ request for an unlimited number of sponsored programmes were referred to listeners, there would bo no doubt as to what the verdict would be.

Mr Hamilton: Would you allow Y, stations the same privilege? Mr Savage: Certainly.

Mr Savage suggested this privilege, If allowed to Y. stations, might result in an improvement in broadcasts. There had been an improvement, but there was still ample room for more improvement.

Air A. J. Stallworthy ('Government —Eden) also expressed gratification at the committee’s report. Mr E. J. Howard (Labour —-Christchurch South) said he did not agree that Y. stations should 'be allowed to advertise, because listeners were paying license fees for entertainment and not for advertising. Unlimited Advertising. Mr A. Harris (Government—Waitemata) said lie considered B class stations should receive a share of the license fees- because they helped Y stations by filling in the portion of the day which was not covered by the latter. Mr W. Nash (Labour —Hutt) supported the committee's recommendation, but said he hoped unlimited advertising would not be allowed to the extent that It would tend to colour news broadcasted. Mr Nash added that he was satisfied license fees collected were larger In sum than they would be if there were no B class stations. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Government — Waitomo) said it. was very fine to see private enterprise backed by the Labour Party. He supported the report. Mr W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central) said that private enterprise worked for profit. The petitioners were working for nothing and their burning desire was to give service to the people. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes: They want something for it.

Mr Parry said B class stations were willing to co-operate with the Broadcasting Board and there could be no objection to their establishing an alternative service. He suggested the announcement relating to the sponsor of the programme should be limited to 15 seconds. This should be a safeguard against blatancv. Coverage Commission's Report.

Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) said that Mr J. B. Donald, when Post-master-General, had promised that provision would be made for B class stations to get sufficient revenue to enable them to carrj on their work, lie asked the Government to fulfil this promise. Mr Hamilton referred to the report of the Coverage. Commission, and said the board had carried out the recommendations that good service should be provided throughout New Zealand. In doing this the hoard had subsidised some B stations io enable them to supply service in places where YA stations could not he picked up. Continuing, lie said the alternative prayer of the petition that approved B stations should he allowed to supply an unlimited number of sponsored programmes had been granted for some months. Promise Fulfilled.

Mr F. .Tones (Government —Dunedin South) : But they are restricted. Mr Hamilton said there was a limit to the nature of information as to sponsorship, but there was no limit to the number of sponsored programmes permitted and t he latter was what, petitioners had requested. It was necessary that the board should lay down conditions as to the type of sponsorship and announcement. He coni ended I Here were any number of companies prepared lo broadcast, under existing conditions for sponsored programmes. The present value of sponsored programmes was very extensive. No one appreciated the value of B stations more than the Government, ami it had been endeavouring to assist them.

Mr Hamilton pointed out that if the request. Hint stations should be allowed In nnnmmee Hie programme provided by " dnlm Smilh. bootmaker, Hamilton Ouay, Wellington.” were granted, there would soon be a demand for even greater concessions. Mr Ravage: That will be. the lime to slop Haem. The Minister said he considered 11m announcement of a programme by “John Smith. Hamilton Quay, Wellington.” was sufficient.

The promise lh.it U stations would be assisted had been fulfilled. The Minister repeated flint there were any number of companies which would consider Ibis a sufficient return for ihe i r services. The renort was adopted.