CHURCH AND RADIO.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19142, 27 October 1927, Page 5

CHURCH AND RADIO.

PROPOSED ANGLICAN STATION. AUCKLAND SYNOD'S APPROVAL. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, October 2G. A strong plea for enthusiastic support for tho proposal to operate a station equal in power to IYA under the aegis of the Anglican Broadcasting Association was made in the closing .stages of the Diocesan Synod by t e Kev. C. A. B. Watson. In moving resolution to that end, Mr atsou said that beyond question broadcasting had becoms a permanent phase or pre-sent-day life, and ho was convinced that it would either be a great nan - maid or a great hindrance to tne Church, ltudio was already being used extensively for tho broadcasting ut religious services, and lie mentioned one sect in Australia with doctrines entirely adverse to their own wnicn owned a station six times more powerful than IYA. , . , One of tho handicaps under wliiun the Church was placed at present, the mover said, was that the Government stations refused to broadcast anything which was deemed to bo ot a contentious naturo. They could conceive_ oi a sermon being cut c.f: by a station wjth the announcement that the relaying would bo resumed when the speaker had censed to present debatable mav ttr. Tho sneaker estimated that n sum of £BOOO would be required to equip the station and a further sum of £'4ooo or £'-5000 per year to maintain the service. The Rev. H, 31. Smyth, who is regarded as an csuert in the matter of Church broadcasting, seconded tho resolution.

Mr Norman Burton said it was sometimes asked whether tlia _ Church could afford to go in lor ''wireless.' He thought that the position rather was that the Church could not afford to refrain from taking up broadcasting. He appealed to all Church people to give their earnest support to the proposal. '['lie Rev. G. Gordon Bell said that while wireless was not expected to take tho place of Church services or of Sacraments, it would bo possible by this means to reach thousands who would otherwise not attend - religious services. The speaker gavo instances of people having been encouraged by what they heard over the air to attend tlio regular services of the Churofr A nWe of opposition was sounded by tho Rev. T. W. Edwards, who thought the money could bo better , spent through tho Church's Central Fund. He believed that wireless kept many people away from church, and he questioned whether the benefits mentioned by other speakers would justify tlm expense. Mr C. J. Tuoks said that it was harder to raise money for the Central Fund than for a purpose with a special appeal such as provided by the proposal beforo the Synod. He felt sure that many people would gladly contribute £1 per year or more in order to participate in the benefits. Archbishop Averill paid a warm tribute to the splendid pioneer work which had been done by the originators of the scheme, and said he felt sure that their efforts would ultimately, be crowned with success.

'lhe motion was carried ,wi:'n enthusiasm.