BOARD AND B STATIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1932, Page 8

BOARD AND B STATIONS

"ATTITUDE DISCOURAGING"

2ZW SEDUCING SERVICE

A. statement niado to-day by the directors of the 2ZW Broadcasting Service that in view of financial difficulties and what is described as the discouraging attitude of the Broadcasting Board the station will shortly considerably curtail its services, and may be forced to close down altogether, will come as a big disappointment to radio listeners, not only in Wellington, but well afield. The decision was reached at a meeting of the directors of the station yesterday afternoon, following an interview with members of the Broadcasting Board earlier. "The statement of the Broadcasting Board's intentions regarding the investigation of coverage is in a form which has caused grave concern to those associated with 'B' class broadcasting stations," said Mr. E. H. Nimmo, chairman, of directors. "The board has Tecently been requested to givo the B class stations, or some of them, financial assistance to enable them to continue the service they have been giving the listeners, which service is widely recognised as a highly valuable and necessary supplement to that of the YA stations. BOAKD UNAPPIIECIATIVE. "The reply given by the board to a deputation from the directors of Station 2ZW was most .discouraging and was such as to indicate that the board was entirely unappreciative of the value of the service given, either from the listeners' point of view or that of its effect upon the revenue of the board. We were left with the conviction that the board was apathetic. "The public will not need to be reminded that during the campaign for the establishment of the Broadcasting Board, and especially in the course of the Parliamentary debates, it was repeatedly indicated ,that provision would be made for the assistance of B class stations, or at least such of them as were providing a worthy service. It is not too much to say it was the apparent intention of Parliament that this should be done. If I remembor rightly, it was even urged in the House that the Bill should be modified to provide for this. . : WHAT WAS ASKED. "In view of this, the directors of 2ZW were encouraged 'to continue their service. In our case this has meant continual and heavy financial loss, and our request to the board was in effect that until the question of national coverage was determined, a contribution_ should be made towards this station's running expenses, in view of the. fact that we were, by encouraging the popularity of broadcasting, strengthening the board's finances. "It is now evident that we cannot expect any assistance for some time to come, and there is no guarantee that any will be forthcoming. In those circumstances there is.no inducement for' the directors to continue. They have, therefore, been compelled, very reluctantly, to determine upon an early curtailment of the service, and it is possible .that the station, will have to close down altogether."