B RADIO STATIONS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 140, 30 June 1937, Page 4

B RADIO STATIONS

State Owns Nine; Subsidies Under Consideration HAWKE'S BAY C0VERAGE (By Telegrsph — Pre«B Auooiatioa.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. - Of the 21 B class radio stations operating in the Dominion, the Government haa purchased nine. The indications are that it will be able to take over a few more, according to a statement made to-day by the aeting-Min-ister-in-Charge of Broadcaeting, Hon, F. Jones. "By Saturday next," Mr Jones said, "we will know the position regarding the others and when we get that information we shall discuss the question of what stations shall be eubsidised and to wbat extent. That, of course, refers only to the ones we do not purchase, and it will take some time." The Minister added that some of the B stations would have to be carried on because of the poor coverage. That applied to Southland and Hawke's Bay, until the new national stations wero ready, and it would be nearly a year before these were in working order. The Minister some little timo ago circularised the owners of the B stations and asked them to furnish him, within a certain period, with replies to the following questions: (1) Whether they desired to retain . their stations. (2) If not, whether they were willing to sell; provided a mutually acceptable price could be reached by negotiations within that period? (3) In the event of a settlement hy negotiation failing, wljether they were willing to' submit their case to arbitration and abide by the deciBion. In making this intimation the Minister stated publicly he wanted it clearly understood that no compulsion would be used to force the B stations off the air and those owners who desired to retain control would be allowed to do so. The Government, however, wanted to conclude the question oi taking over those stations that wero agreeable.