FUTURE OF RADIO

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22461, 23 September 1944, Page 6

FUTURE OF RADIO

IMPROVING PROGRAMMES CRITICISM IN PARLIAMENT WELLINGTON, Saturday The reserves approximating £1,400,000 held by the broadcasting services v/ould be insufficient to meet the prospective projects of buildings, reequipping of stations and the installation of television, said the Minister in charge of Broadcasting, the Hon. F. Jones, in the House of Representatives yesterday. An Opposition member said it was computed that only 12s 6d of the 25s fee was necessary to maintain the service.

Mr Jones said that owing to the war a big building programme, estimated to cost £740,000, had been deferred. That and the cost of reequipping stations would require much money. There was also the question of new stations to service districts where reception was not good. In regard to television, the Minister continued, it was estimated to cost £2,230,000 for the equipment to provide a three hours’ nightly programme in each of the four main centres. Technical expenses would amount to £94,000 and programmes £837.000. All that could not possibly be done on a licence fee of 25s and there was something to be said for building up financial reserves. “American Stuff”

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, advocated reduced fees and criticised the programmes. “It makes my blood run cold,” he said, “to hear the mongrel English that is put over the air. Why do we have so much American stuff broadcast and why do we continue to put over that slang while we try to teach correct English in our schools? We ought to put over the air the things we are proud of in our education and language. The letters which members of the House receive indicate how the broadcasting is affecting the language of our people.” Mr Jones said the amount of American material broadcast until recently was due to the presence of Americans in New Zealand, but at present only about one-fifth of the material was American. At the end of the war it was hoped to bring more artists from overseas. New Zealand artists, particularly the younger ones coming forward, would be encouraged.