More Drastic Broadcasting Cuts Wanted

Chronicle (Levin), 21 April 1948, Page 4

More Drastic Broadcasting Cuts Wanted

In reply to his protest early last week at broadcasting hours. not bemg drastically reducqd last Friday he had' received a telegram from the Electricity Controller, advised the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin aL Monday 'night's' meeting of the Levin Borough Council This intimated that the Minister would be announcing an extension oi the broadcasting cuts commencing' from Monday of this week.. He had discussed the matter with officers of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board, continued Mr. Burdekin. The board was of' the opinion that the reduction in i broadcasting hours had not been carried far efiough. At a time of crisis like the present there should be very drastic cuts to the- point where only essential broadcasting is allowed. A member : Let Bing go for a hohday. difficulty did exist in .reducing the hours that commercial statlons "were on the aii', said Mr. Burdekin, but the o.thers could be curtailed still further. He felt the council should renewMts protest to the controller and let the local board know it had the council's support in the representations it would eertainly be making on the Subj;ect. Critieism qf the cuts made by the local board did not assist, he added. The board knew best what cuts were necessary to keep within the'dLtrict's allocation of power. Cr. D.. J. Sweetzer -eommented that if further cuts in broadcasting woul'd save some of the power used in receiving sets they should be made. ■ Cr. R. A. Frederikson eommented that the reduction in broadcasting hours mentione'd in the telegram was supposed to have commenced that day, but obviously the department was not hurrying as the cut had not even been announced yet. Qn the other hand the, board had' received three urgent telegrams demanding instant reduetions in its consumption. It was estimated: that there were 5000 receiving sets in the local board's district, added Cr. Frederikson, and if they were on for an average of three hours daily they Would cqnsume 1000 units of electricity, Shutdowns would have to be made early, otherwise listeners wauld be able.ta tuhe in ta Australian stations. ' "A great many of the prograanmes are not worth listening to," declared Cr. D. J. Gardiner, "and we co.uld well do. without them when it meansr the sacrifice of the use of necessary domestic , appliances." 1 . The council resolved to thank the ' controller for his telegram and to express the opinion that very much ;more drastic cuts were necessary in hroa'dcasting hours. It also decided ta assure the local board of its support in any representations it might make in this regard.