BROADCASTING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 13, 7 September 1931, Page 5

BROADCASTING

("Post" Special Commissioner.)

STATE ENTERPRISE GOYERNMENT'S PROPOSAL FOR CONTROL BY BOARD CRITICISM OF BILL

WELLINGTON/ Friday. It is clear from the discussion 'which took place on the introduction of the new broadcasting legislation when it appeafed in the House of Representatives that itg passage will not be all plain sailing. Objection was raised jj by many members against the State' j embarking on further enterprises ata time of firnaneial stringency, and it also strongly argued that' the listeners- 'in should have a voicb in the appointment of representation on the: proposed board of control. ... 1 "Can you give the names of the members of the board.?" queried Mr I W. L. Martin (Labour, Raglan), when the Postmaster-General (the Hon. J. B. Donald) was explaining the main | pointg ,of the new -scheme. Mr Donald. — "I have had -applica- i tions from about 200 already, but no one has been selected yet." Mr Martih: "Is it true that provision is being made for two superannuated civil servantg to serve on the board?" The Minister said he dd not know of it. The board would consist of four members*—' "and no members of Parliament," he added amidst cries of "Oh!" Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon): "You want business men, eh?" A Labour voice: "Howr much will you have to pay the company ?" Mr Donald replied that it would be about £3000. The ^ four members of the board would receive a total of £1350 a year. "Most emphatic disapproval" of the Bill was voieed by Mr H. M. Campbell (Reform, Hawke's "Bay). who said that at a time of serious diffieulty the Government was calmly proposing tp set up another State department, and to spend an extra £1350 a year, plus the cost of purchasing the plant from the company, which the speaker ventured would be nearer £50,000 or £60,000 than £30,000. Mr W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier): "But there is money in it for the Government." Mr Campbell. "This is no time to go delving into fresh enterprses. We have far too many now; we are crippling the country with them." Listeners Representation Mr E. J. Howard (Labour, Christchurch South) protested from another angle against the method of setting up the board. "We have at present," he said, "a meat board, a dairy board, a fruit board, a honey board, a highway board, and all these boards are set up by people interested in the affairs they have to administer." The broadcasting system would be owned by the listeners-in. They would have to buy the statlons, and pay for the whole outfit, and yet they were not to have one word in the appointment of the members of the board. "I protest," he said, "against the Government giving into the hands of four people, whom it has to select from its friends, a coneern which belongs to the people who pay for it." Once the board took charge there would be less control over its actions than there was over the private company to-day. At present questions could be raised in the House about the broadcasting system. The listenI ers-in would have no redress against the board. It was a shameful proposition, and Mr Howard said he would prefer the present company's proposal to the Govertnment's proposal. Mr A. E. Ansell (Reform, Chalm■ers), asked what representation the listeners-in would have. Mr Donald: "The Government intends to see that they have representation." Mr Ansell said that a proportion of the members of the board should be elected by the listeners-in. Scheme Will Be Welcomed The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) asked Mr Howard to possess his soul in patience in regard to the proposals. There was no 1 need for him to work himself. up into such a state. Mr Forbes said he wassure the scheme would be welcomed by the listeners-in- as a step in the' rigbt direetion of improving the service. The scheme was based on the principle of the British Broadcasting Company, which had proved such a success. There would always. be complaints about the music broadcast. Any boards which had been set up by the present Government had been composed of the best men available; there had been no question of party about their appointment. He was. sure the new board would maintain the service at a high standard. As to the listeners-in baving representation on the board, he asked how it was possible to elect representatives of 60,000 people from North Cape to thfe Bluff. The Government was in a position to appoint the best men to the board. "You might as well call on the telephone subscribers to vote for a

mah to run the telephone service," he remarked. "The Government will see that the best is done with the mhney paid by the listeners." He added that the board would have to report to Parliament. Mr F*. Waite (Reform, Clutha) : "Are you making arrangements to broadcast our debates?" Mr Forbes: "I hope not — for the sake of the listeners-in." He conclud* ed by saying there would be no rooni for objection when the whole thing wag completed. Wisdom Questioned The Leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) questioned whetber it was wise for the Government to accept further responsibilities in the present difficult cirCumstances. They should carefully consider ' the matter of launching out on a new enterprise. Wh-en the change was made the listeners would demand improvements in the service, and Mr. Coates feared that more expenditure would be involved. He doubted very much whetber' the overhead cost of running the service would not be increased. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) asked whether the Government had any policy with regard to the B class stations. Mr J. A. Nash (Reform, Palmerston) said he would support the plea for the listeners-in to have a voice in setting up the board. Complimenting Mr. Nash' on his democratie spirit, Mr W. E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) said that Mr Howard's case was unanswerable. "I am going to vote against the Bill altogether," declared Mr D. Jones (Reform, Mid-Canterbury) . "It is wholly wrong to bring this matter under the Government at all." It would be paraded continuously in the House, and there would be bitter debates about the quality of the matter being sent over the air. The board would be looked upon as a political board. The Postmaster General, replying to the discussion,- said that the B class stations would be controlled by the board. He said that although times were bad, the number of licenceg was increasing, and that showed there need be no fear about the revenue. He was satisfied there would be sufficient funds to provide the service re~ quired. He declared that if he was in ofhce when the board was appointed, the listeners-in would have their say so far as administration was coneerned. Mr Howard: "What do you mean?" Mr Donald:. "They will be appointed to the board." A voice: "What! All of them?" At present, the Minister said, no names whatever had been considered. He resented the suggestion that two men had already been nominated. Personally, he had a perfectly open mind in the matter. "I can assure- members there will be no political appointments/' he concluded.