THE MINISTER AND "B" STATIONS.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 122, 9 June 1937, Page 4

THE MINISTER AND "B" STATIONS.

There will doubtless be a great many in and .about Napier and Hastings and the surrounding districts who will bave read with interest the long statement — telegraphed to us from Dunedin yesterday — by the Acting-Minister of Broadcasting. It occupied cloSe on two columns of our space, but it may be very w'ell doubted whether any 'of our readers will have been able to extract from it any very clear idea as to what the Government's real intentions may be. Mr Jones would seenh to have resorted to a device tliat is in great favour among preSent-day Ministers of the Crown in this country. He has sought in a long sm'other of words only remotely pertinent to the question at issue to evade answering that question, which is whether and how the Government proposes to redeem the •quite clear promises regarding "B" stations that were rnade during the election campaign. At that time the leaders of his party were quite unstinted in their acknowledgment of the rights of the "B" broadcasting stations and of the fine service they had rendered to the public. Futtherinore, Mr jones himself repeated all this with emphasis when, just a year ago, he brought down his Bf'oaidcaSting Bill, ostensibly designed to plaee the national service on a more acceptable footing — a design as to the aeeomplishmetit of Which there is a good deal of variety of publie opinion. Neither before election nor during the debate on the Bill was there any suggestion of taking steps for the virtual suppression oi these stations — for#that is what it amounts to, despite all Mr. Jones may have to say about saies to the 'Government being entirely voluntary. As has been said before, there are many wa.ys of killing a dog besides hanging him, and in this case it may be gathered, even from what Mr. Jones now says, that he is tb be starved out of existence if he does not come to heel a,t the Minister s ■whistlte. The pre-election promise that was made distinctly indicated that, with Labour placed in office, the "B'? stations •would not only have full recognition but would also be fostered by the Government, even to the extent of being granted financial subsidies. If, in terms of that promise, the Government* now wished to deal fairly with the "B " stations it would come forward with altex'native offers. It should 'say to each, we are prepared, according to promise, to assist and subsidise you in such and such a way, or, on the other hand, to btiy you out at such and such a price." There would, at least, be some show oi justice in this, but the Government chooses rather to Set an arbitrary figure on what it is prepared to pay and has »aid "either take that or abide the consequences." It is now Said that the Government is prepared to subinit the question o!f price to arbitration, but how can any arbitra.tor decide unless he knows what the Government was alternatively prepaTed to do in the way of assistance and subsidy ? All" this, however, may perhaps be regarded as matter merely between the Government and the conductors of the "B" stations and thus only of incidental concern to such of the public as like to see justice done. But, apa.rt from that, - there is undoubtedly in many localities — this part of Hawke s Bay among them — where there is a strong popplar feeling that the "B" stations shonld be maintained and the Labour leaders' promises towards them fulfilled. That feeling has had quite sufficient public demonstration of such a character as to show that Mr. Jones's suggestion that it has been politically inspired is entirely graundless. People of all shades of political opinion, Labour included, have taken part in jt, not only here ^ in Hawke's Bay, but also in many other parts of the Dominion. It is therefore quite useless for Mr. Jones to attempt to "sidetrack" the issue upoii any such suggestion. Nor is the public ^ in any way eoncerned abont infringements of the Government's monopoly of radio advertising, which he himself shows he has full power to protect. As to the "gag" which, so far, he seems bent on placing upon the broadcasting of speeches on the subject at to-mor-row night's mass meeting at Auckland the public may easily jHidge for itsfelf the motive and purpose behind it. He is manifestly afraid that what may be said might prejudice the Government. He may at the last moment relent in the fnce of public opinion, but, if so, there can be now but little grace in doing so. That the decree of "yea" or "nay" should, under his own legislation, lie in his mouth alone is only another instance of the dictatorial powers the Government has taken to itself and its individual Ministers.