A New Broadcasting Station

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21417, 8 March 1935, Page 10

A New Broadcasting Station

The decision of the Broadcasting Board to proceed immediately with the construction near Wellington of a new broadcasting station capable

of reception in all parts of New Zealand by day or by night seems to require more explanation than has yet been offered. The board now has four stations under its control, all of which have recently been brought up-to-date at great expense; and it has been officially claimed that listeners in any part nf New Zealand are within reach of one or other of these stations. Why, then, the need for a transmitter which is to be more powerful, and presumably more expensive, than any other in Australia and New Zealand? Mr Hands says darkly that the station would be useful in a national emergency. So it would: but the Broadcasting I Board might safely leave the Government to make the necessary provisions for a national emergency and stick to its proper task, which is to provide good programmes and transmit them effectively. At present it is not providing good programmes; and if it has funds to spare it ought to employ them in enlarging and improving its programme staff, in paying more to performers, in organising local talent in each of the four centres, and in improving and enlarging the very inadequate studio accommodation at 3YA. There is, moreover, a strong case against any increase in the number of main stations. In one of its reports the Broadcasting Board says, with some truth, that there is a shortage of broadcasting talent in New Zealand; and this shortage is emphasised by the existence of four stations, each providing a full programme. A further dispersal of resources seems as undesirable as it is unnecessary. The whole question is so important that it would be better to defer a final decision until the Broadcasting Amendment Bill has been passed and the new board appointed.