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Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1930, Page 4

Thu Government aments disposed to t.ako over radio broadcasting at. the close of the present contract with a private company. Wo do not consider this to he a stem in the right directum, and believe the Government will be well advised to leave the position as it is, that is, arrange for a I renewal of the contract on such better terms and conditions as appear reasonable and desirable. The four Y.A. stations were probably in themselves a mistake. One good 6 .A. station should have sufficed, and hv concentrating on that as a centre, the saving over the other three stations could be utilised in improving tlv< remaining strong central station. Smalt rebroadcasting stations for •scattered localities when the main station may not he functioning too well could be built up as required. The local stations are of course useful for the crystal set votaries, and the small stations would in a measure meet such general requirements. The Broadcasting Company now responsible for programmes, has done as well and perhaps better than the Government will do with the four stations. There has been a steady improvement of the broadcasted programmes, improvements no doubt brought about In a great measure by the continuous complaints of iistenorsjn. A Government would not be disposed to respond as readily as a company would to complainte. Enjoying a monopoly the Government would be unassailable, whereas a company under contract must make a move towards progressive improvement, .or the demand for a. change of license would 'become insistent. .Naturally there is ,n limit to the range of talent in this country, and a further limit is imposed by financial considerations, and tbo®e limits would 1 feet Government control as it dom a private company. Under the Government there would he a tendency for constant interference, and much pol'tical string pulling. The Government should take the wiser course of tightening up the condition.-, of the contract. Broadcasting has been in vogue long enough now to indicate the kind of programme deemed most satisfactory. There is also the experience of other countries to work on. and much advisory information can be given by amateur experts who have succeeded with wireless, as to tho type of station and question of range desirable within the limits of finance. New Zealand listeners .lean a great deal on the principal Australian stations in preference to much of the Dominion 'fare, which is another sound reason why one outstanding station for this country would be preferable to four mediocre stations. By concentrating on one* station an orchestra of special merit and charm could bo built up. That alone would tend to increase the vogue of wireless.