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BROADCASTING POLICY

MINISTER'S OUTLINE FOLLOWING THE BRITISH LEAD POWERS OF NEW BOARD [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.! WELLINGTON. March 6. An outline of the Govei-nment's broadcasting policy was given to the House of Representatives to-night by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in moving the second reading of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill. Mr-Hamilton said that, during the three years the present board had been in existence, an endeavour had been made to lay the foundations of a policy. The board had really blazed the trail. Both it and the advisory council had done good work, but it was proposed now to abolish the advisory council. As an illustration of the growth of broadcasting in New Zealand the Minister mentioned that in 1932, when the board was formed, the number of listeners was 7982, and in January of this year 145,965. The number of radio licenses issued in 1930 was 53,407, in 1931 02,773, in 1932 74,980, in 1933 93,489, and in 1934 118,086. That the number nf listeners was increasing rapidly every year did not indicate that the service was unpopular, or that the boa I'd was not doing its job very well.

"The policy we propose lo adopt. is mainly on Ihe lines of the British Broadcasting Corporation's policy," continued the Minister. "The British system is generally recognised as the best in the world. The American and Australian systems, I believe, are not to be compared with it. In Great Britain the only revenue received by the corporation is from listeners' fees. In that sense we are endeavouring to follow the British Broadcasting Corporation policy, rather than to adopt the Australian and American systems, under which maintenance depends on advertising and revenue from other services." The Minister said he believed that those countries would be glad to revert to the British system if they could. Controversial Matter Mr H. T. Armstrong (Lab.. Christchurch East): Why should we follow and not lead? The Minister replied that New Zealand was not yet in a position to start off with a clean sheet. It was proposed to withdraw the regulations regarding controversial matter, and the board would be its own judge as to what should go over the air. In Great Britain there were no B stations. "We can't follow Great Britain in that respect, but B stations are getting none of our revenue," he said. "But we do not propose to take away their licenses." The Minister said ho knew there was a desire in some quarters that the personnel of the board as proposed in the bill should be reduced from seven to five, but it was necessary that there should be wide representation, and he thought the appointment of seven members would satisfy that need. Representation of Listeners Mr W. Nash (Lab., Hutt): Will there be a representative of listeners on the board? Mr Hamilton: There will not be an elected member. Listeners will be given an opportunity to make recommendations, but the Government will make the appointments. Continuing Mr Hamilton said that the bill proposed to abolish the advisory council, not because it was ot no use, but because the increase in personnel of the board wouU' elimi-i nate the necessity for it. The third big change that; was being made was the removal of control of controversial matter from the department to the board. A voice: What does that involve? Mr Hamilton: The present regulations will be withdrawn, and it will be left to the board to decide what should and what should not be broadcast. The alternative would be to appoint a censor, or a censorship board, but power will be given to the board to decide on such matters. B Stations The Minister added that it would be possible for the board, if it so desired, to continue payment of subsidies to B stations where it was considered that the national stations were nc' providing a full service. Tv. TT -rr>ilton explained that it was not intended to take the committee stages of the bill immediately, as he wanted to consider some suggested amendments. He explained several clauses of the bill dealing with the powers conferred on the Broadcasting Board. Mr W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central): You should realise that human beings are not machines. Mr Hamilton: Yes; but we must have all reasonable control. Mr F. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino): And plenty of records! When Mr Hamilton stated that the

bill would not permit any advertising over the air, Mr Langstone asked him if this was the outcome of an arrangement between newspapers and the Government. Mr Hamilton: No, we are merely following the British system of no advertising, and of no revenue from sources other than listeners' fees. An Improvement "Broadly speaking the bill is an improvement on the present position," said Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) who followed the Minister. "However, I think we are following British system too slavishly. Coverage can be much better from one station in England than in New Zealand, because of the shape of the Old Country." Mr Hamilton: "We are only following their policy. Mr Howard: But policies follow environment. The policy here seems to be not to help but to irritate listeners. That may be modified by the class of men we get on the new board which will have control of all broadcasting. Continuing, Mr Howard complained that the present board has decided to install a new 60 kilowatt station near Wellington. He thought such an important matter should have been left for the new board. Mr Hamilton: They are only calling tenders. Mr Howard: But the new board may want to review that policy. He criticised present programmes, saying that some stations gave grand opera which was monotonous and was not understood by 50 per cent, of the people. Mr Fraser: A lot of people want grand opera. Mr Howard: I don't believe that. Mr Howard's next point was that listeners should be represented on the new board —he who paid the piper should call the tune. He thought listeners should have at least two representatives. Mr Hamilton: Do you think thai would give you a better board? Mr Howard: We would at least have means of checking the board. Mr Hamilton: Would you have one electorate? Mr Howard: Yes, the whole of New

Zealand, although I should like to see separation of control for the South and the North Islands. Conditions and difficulties are so different that it might be wise to have one board in the south and another in the north. Mr Howard said that the bill would ring the death knell of all B stations, and that it would only be a matter of time before they were ruined. The proposed new 60 kilowatt station for Wellington would drown the whole of the North Island. He referred to Station 3ZM, Christchurch, which, he said, was often overpowered by Station 3YA. Station 3ZM was delightful in tone and general output, and it deserved every encouragement.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19350307.2.108

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 14

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,166

BROADCASTING POLICY Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 14

BROADCASTING POLICY Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 14

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