RADIO BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1931, Page 5

RADIO BOARD

THE TAKING OVER. SMOOTH SERVICE ASSURED. (By Telegraph—ter tress Association j WELLINGTON, December 20. Mr Vickery, Chairman of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, stated to-day that the Postmaster-General had indicated his intention of assisting the Board in every possible way during the first few difficult months. Arrangements have been made for Mi’ K. Hands, Principal of the Telegrapn Division, of the G.P.0., to act in the capacity of General Manager to the Board until further notice, and the services of other officers of the Post and Telegraph Department will be placed at the disposal of the Board when required. -Mr Vickery added that the appointment of the Board so close to the holidays had made matters a little difficult, but with the co-operation of the Postmaster-General and his Department, a smooth service throughout January would be assured. THE FIRST BIG STEP. WELLINGTON, December 19. The Radio Board has taken advantage of the services of the company’s operating staffs in the four centres, and will thus secure continuity in the programmes after January 1„ It may be anticipated that no radical changes in the programmes, or policy, can be expected until the Board, which is primarily an administration of business men, has had ample opportunities of conferring. Members of the Board have already conferred informally and some important phases of their work are in hand. The first big step ik the settlement of the terms for the acquisition of the company’s assets in order to hand them to the Board on January 1. Mr H. Vickers, Chairman of the Board, is appointed for five years, is a full-time worker, apsd is paid £650 a year. The other two members are appointed for three years and are paid £350 a year.

APPOINTMENTS CRITICISED

CHRISTCHURCH, December 19

Disappointment exists among people interested in radio that the personnel of the Radio Broadcastisng Board does not include men expert in the management of broadcasting. “It appears to be an infernal mess,” said Mr J. I. Smail. “The Board will be 'dependent!.'entiwdv <flfi it# l employees and will be in their hands.” The questson of B stations, one listener said, wa,s one of the weightiest and most urgent to be decided. Relay stations would also have to be considered.

The advisory committee of eight was described by another listener as a piece of futility. The nominations, it was said, would, come from small bodies of listeners, not at all representative of the general feeling , among listeners. A plebiscite of listeners could easily be taken, and nominations could as easily have been made by listeners.

Mr L. ft. 0. Macfarlane, the sole South Island representative on the Board, is well known as *a breeder of prize Friesian cattle at his farm, “El Beit,” Culverden. In 1928, Mr Macfarlane wag an aspirant for political honours, contesting the Hornnui seat against the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes in the Reform interest. He polled 3505 votes against Mr Forbes’s 5344. He is a director of several private companies and takes a keen interest in racing,-having several horses under commission. . Under the- title of “Farming Facts and Fancies,” a series of articles on the practical side of farming which he contributed to the newspapers, was recently published in book form.

The Board appointments appear to a number of listeners to be purely political and to have no regard to the technical ability required to run a‘system of broadcasting. The short time between the announcement of the Board and the date for it to take over was subjected to strong criticism, the main complaint being that an entire reorganisation of the staff would be necessary. It was agreed that there would be little difficulty if the present staff were taken over as it stood, thus avoiding a hiatus.