Mr Massey Adopting Med Fed Proposals.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1922, Page 4

Mr Massey Adopting Med Fed Proposals.

MASQUER A DING “RKFORAI.” 1

t (.Mercantile Gazette). I For a long time farmers in New j Zealand have been obsessed with the idea that they could undertake the work of distribution, and so wc have had farmers’ co-operative companies, freezing companies, Meat Control Board, and probably we "ill have a Dairy Produce l Control Board. The sorry spectacle presented j by these farmer managed concerns ought to be a lesson to the producers, i They should have learned by now that production is one thing and distribution another, and while larmers- may be competent as producers, they are wholly incompetent wlicn they attempt to handle the distribution proposition. Because of the sorry mess the farmers have made of most of their companies wo have had that wretched Companies’ Amendment Act foisted upon us. This Act practical y gives the weak-kneed companies a moratorium until the end oi next \eai, bv which time it is believed that they will have converted their fixed, and it is to he feared over-valued assets, into „ash liabilities. One or two of these concerns may pull through, hut we should not like to say the same tor Uie majority ol them. . . There is another aspect ol tins interference with trade that seems to have been overlooked. It is the polux of extreme labour to nationalise! the means of production, distribution and exchange, and we stand in awe at the prospect of the extremists getting control of the Goveirnment of the country. Vet we stand by and applaud Mr Massey when he steals Mr Hollands political thunder. What is the Meat Control Board, but an attempt to nationalise the distribution of frozen meat. The Dairy Produce Pool is on the same lines, ami is an attempt to nationalise the distribution of butter and cheese, and dried milk and casein. 1 here is power to compel all to distribute as directed. Had a Labour Government introduced such legislation, Hie iarmers and the business community would be panic-stricken, blit UunuM it Js fathered by Mr Massey, the 'llcfon,. Prime Minister, the scheme is applauded. A dangerous principle and. a dangerous precedent are involved in th* Meat Control Act and the proposed compulsory Dairy Produce L ' will not stop at these two, and "txt year we will prohaby have a \\ no! ton trol Board, a Tallow Poo , a 1- . Combine ,and so on until «e Gael tic zenith ,of economic fodx. It > no-s to endeavour to circumvent oi set aside the laws of supply ami demand. They are immutable. In • however, the beliel is current Jut legislation can recast creation-

Kiillio lJroadciisliriS

AUCKLAND, November 5

st'.t.'ment of the Government’s mte.it.ons with icgnrd to t-e rcgul-tion of w ir-less broadcasting Ul land, has been made by the Tlon. J • G. Coates, Postmaster-General. C. usiderable interest, said Mr Coates was centring around the proposals’lor the establishment of broadcasting stations in New Zealand, and already a largo number of electrical 1,,-nis who would be dealing in wireless apparatus. >.uf nr.de enquiries tor licenses to authorise them to broadcast by radie-telephone for the benefit of their clients and the public generally. To a dealer in wireless apparatus, a broadcasting station performed somewhat the same functions as did the advertising columns of a newspaper To the ordinary business man it advertised his wares and encouraged people to purchase wireless receiving sets, by means of which they could, when they were so disposed, listen to the entertainment That was being disseminated by means of broadcasting stations. It appeared that the Auckland district would he well entered for, as applications luid already been received for licenses to establish broadcasting stations at Wbnngarei, Auckland and Hamilton. The object in drawing up regulations and in allocating centres at which broadcasting would be permitted was to ensure tliat service would bo given in remote localities. as well as in more densely settled communities. The Department bad prepared detailed regulations governing the operation of broadcasting and receiving stations, and these would !>'■ gazetted shortly. Enquiries had been made as to the nature of the programmes that would be permitted. Tn this connexion careful study had been made of experience elsewhere, and had been decided to prohibit absolutely direct advertising. The regulations provided that broadcasting stations should not lw used for the dissemination of propaganda of a controversial nature, but should he restricted to matter of educative or entertaining character, such as news lectures, useful information. religious services, musical or elocutionary entertainments, and such other items of general interest as might be approved by the Minister. The licensee of a broadcasting station would not transmit radio oommunicatiens which in the judgment of the Minister did not come within the authority of this regulation, or did not conduce to public interest. Already, continued the Minister, a limited amount of broadcasting on low power had been permitted in the different centres, Auckland included, Now that the issue of permanent licenses was within mensurable distance, no further temporary permits of this kind, w.ould he granted. The popularity of broadcasting in the United States had had remarkable development, said Mr Coates, and it was claimed tliat at least 1,000,000 people had wifeless receiving sets. The possibilities of radio-telephone broadcasting as a means of disseminating entertainment and useful information to the community at large, were very great, and it was claimed that the matter would he entered into very enthusiastically in this . country and be of special benefit to those who were situated at some distance from centres of population.