RADIO SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21418, 9 March 1935, Page 9

RADIO SERVICE

GOVERNMENT POLICY OUTLINED "NOT AGAINST EXISTING B STATIONS" DEPUTATION TO MINISTER [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, March 8. "The Government's policy is rrot to encourage the investment of more capital in B stations; but we are not against the B stations which exist now," said the Postmaster-General (the Hon. Adam Hamilton), replying to-day to a deputation which had expressed the view that the Government was using the Broadcasting Bill to obliterate B stations in New Zealand. In spite of the Minister's assurance, the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, of the Friendly Road Movement, Auckland, indicated that he was still convinced that the proposed legislation would involve the destruction of the B stations and said he "might as well pack up his traps" as soon as the bill was passed. Mr I. Meltzer, representing an Auckland listeners' club, said that Auckland listeners were extremely nervoua and suspicious because the bill before Parliament did not give them sufficient security. There were one or two provisions which were likely to react against B stations, and there were no provisions to protect them. One alternative was to eliminate B stations together from the bill; but it was conceded that the ideal system would be unified control, something on the lines of the bill, but with a board constituted in such a manner as to assure that B stations would not be injured. Listeners' Representatives It was suggested that there should be three listeners' representatives on the board, two being for the North Island and one for the South Island, and that they should be elected by the listeners, and not appointed by the Government. It was not asked that the whole board should be elective, as it was realised that there were national and international questions which might make it necessary for the Government to retain considerable influence in the control of broadcasting. Mr Scrimgeour said the bill, in his opinion, provided the weapon the Government was looking for to destroy the B slations. Mr Hamilton: Is it fail- to say that? I have not heard that opinion expressed anywhere else Mr Scrimgeour said he wanted to ask a direct question. Did the Government propose to eliminate B stations? The Minister said the Government's policy was not changed by the bill. Mr Scrimgeour; Will there still be two classes of stations? Mr Hamilton: That will be for the board. Mr Scrimgeour: The Prime Minister has said the B stations have nothing to fear. The Minister said it was not correct that the Post and Telegraph Department was against the Friendly Road station. The department had given it increased hours and increased powers. Mr Scrimgeour said the license to IZB had been granted only under pressure, to which Mr Hamilton replied that if that station had got everything it wanted, similar facilities could not be withheld from others. Controversial Matter Mr Hamilton said he thought the bill would loosen up the control of controversial matter by taking the question out of departmental regulations and putting it in the hands of a board, which, he considered, would act with good judgment. His opinion was that listeners would just as soon have the control of broadcasting centred in a board as in the political sphere. An earlier deputation from the United Listeners' Club sought direct representation for listeners on the board. The- suggestion was that there should be two such members, one for each island. The Minister said the request was reasonable. He did not think it wise to have an elective board, but lie would do his best to see that listeners had representation. He appreciated the value of members of the board keeping in touch with listeners, and advising them of developments. Some considered a board of five would be sufficient, and he had no particular objection, but he was inclined to think a board of seven, as proposed by the bill, would be better. Some men with business training were required, and the board would deal with controversial matter. He did not see that B stations or the trade were entitled to 1 epreseritation. The listeners were m a different position, because they found the money.