PRESS AND RADIO

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 96, 10 May 1937, Page 8

PRESS AND RADIO

— Pren* Assonlntion.i

Mr. Hodgens' Fears About B Stations BROKEN PLEDGES

(By Teleeraph

PALMERSTON N, This Day. Outspoken criticism of the attitode of certain B class radio station owners towards the Government 's broadcasting policy, was voiced by Mr. J. Hodgens, ' MP. for Palmerston, when addressing ;electors in the Opera House on Saturday night. He stated that there had been an organised attempt to bring the •Government into disrepute with the •eleetors by suggesting that the Gov•ernment had broken its pledge to B ;ptations. "I want. to say this that I cannot see where that inf erence comes ln, ' ' stated •Mr. Hodgens. "There was a confer--ence of B station owners held not so very long ago and pretty well every B station owner was present, including a .pertain gentleman in Palmerston North who has had a lot to say recently. At the conference a resolution was carried approving of the Government taking over the B stations but reserving the right to consider' further the price offered by the Government. So you see the owners approved of the Government taking. over their stations leaving the matter of price the real issue. They didn't mind who owned or controlled the stations so long as they got their price." Mr. Hodgens stated that the Government was prepared to negotiate in order to. arrive at. a price that was mutuaUy satisfactory and if that were impossible, then to submit the issue to arbitrators. A voice: That's absolutely fair. Mr. Hodgens: "I£ the station still wants to carry on as -formerly the , Government is prepared to consider what form State aid will take. The Government is prepared to give certain subsidiel to B stations provided always that the stations aTe not going to sell their interests to the likes of a newspaper. This Government is not going to permit the Press of New Zealand to control the ether. The Press of New Zealand boasts that it moulds public opinion and it would be suicidal for a Government to aHow the ether to get into the hands of the same combine. We are going to stop that. If the B stations are prepared to put over that which is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, they will get a fair jgo." ' The.speaker declared that if it came to a "show-down" as to who had the power in the country, the people would see that it was the Government and not the. "monopolistie Press."