No Departure from Policy

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 126, 14 June 1937, Page 7

No Departure from Policy

■Pre«9 Assoeiatton. I

B-CLASS STATIONS Minister Decries "Ramp to Get Higher Prices" PLEDGES WILL BE KEPT

(Bf Telesrapti-

AUCKLAND. Lasi Nlght. A denial that the Governjnent was departing in any way from ita election pledges with regard to broadcasting was made by the acting-Prime Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, in reply to a deputation from the B Stations Proteetion Committee, which waited on him last night. The deputation placed 'before the Minister resolutions carried at the meeting j in the Town Hall on Thursday night. ! It also voiced its protest against the j restrictions imposed on further broadcasts dealing with the controversy and recommended a general policy as a basis for the maintenance of private B j stations in the broadcasting system. Policy suggestions put forward by ! the committee involved the adoption of j a general principle of adequate alloca- j tibns with proteetion to all B stations. ' | It was also proposed that a council i should be f ormed representing listeners ' 1 i interests to control the alloaction of i funds from listeners' fees and to make recommendations as to the number of B station licenses and on total alloeations and the general standard of efficiency. A further suggestion was that no more purohases of B stations should be completed until the general policy was finalised. The council, when constituted, would normally negotiate with any station desiring to sell. Professor W. Anderson raised the question of tlhe ban imposed on B stations in the broadcasting of views regarding tho present situation. This aetion, he said, meant that those interested were unable to give free expression to their opinions. "We want to guarantee the freedom of expression, ' * said Mr. Fraser, '*but we do not want to create a monopoly for a few people in a few favoured positions. "We do not propose to allow the air to be used by monopolists, who are trying to create a ramp for a certain class of station." Mr. Fraser was asked whether the Government's present line . of action would be confined to radio or whetlher it could be extended to the newspapers. "What can you do with newspapers," the Minister replied. "I have" never had any cause for complaint regarding treatment in the newspapers. I realise that papfers have only a certain amount of space available, and as long as I am fairly reported I do not worry. "Some of these B stations may be popular," tho Minister, continued, "but j I doubt whether it is a lasting popu- j larity. Wthether a station is popular or , not will not affect the Government in j carrying out the policy which it be- ; lieves to be correct. The Government ■ ihas declared its policy and it has a j I responsibility for that policy between j ithe elections. I see that some people ; I in Auckland have been sending cables | :on the matter to the Prime Minister j jin London. All I can say to that is j that I think the cable company can be J congratulated on an accession to its j funds. " I The point was raised by Mr. W. W. j Rogers that B stations wero being ] forced to sell to the Government. [ •' You were a member of the depu- j tation which waited on the Govel'nment j in Wellington," said Mr. Fraser to Mr. j Rogers, "and you heard me say tihat the promise given by the Prime Minister would be adhered to and honoured. 'I also said the Government was the eustodian of public money, and before B stations could be subsidised, it would be neeessary to consider the duplication of servi'ces in particular districts. "We are not compelling you to sell but there is a danger of control being acquired by a few wealthy people. Stations may be controlled by an association of newspapers just as your station is controlled. A number of stations have been sold willingly to the Government, but Mr. Savage 's statement that the B stations will bo. allowed to live witih a fair subsidy etill holds good. "They can only live in two ways, either by revenue from advertising or by grants. Advertising is ho longer feasible, and I quite admit that there is a strong aesthetic case against it. Accordingly, it is quite obvious that the othet method must be eonsidered. ' It is said that there are too many stations in some parts of the country. We are prepaxed to pay a fair valuation even fOr redundant stations, but to those wihich want to remain the Prime i Minister 's promise covers aesistance by ! way of a subsidy. I have said there are certain stations which are not giving a servico which warrants a sUb'stantial subsidy. "There are also some B stations which are flagrantly breaking the law I with regard to advertising. They are using listeners and others interested to build up a ramp, so that they can get an unduly high price for their stations. The Government will certainly dOal with these matters but it has nbt departed from its policy as declared at the last eloetion."