RADIO LISTENERS OBJECT TO TWO-MEN CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 75, 20 June 1927, Page 1

RADIO LISTENERS OBJECT TO TWO-MEN CONTROL

DOMINION COUNCIL SUGGESTED AFPEAL TO GOVERNMENT DOMINION Radio Listeners’ Council, with headquarters at Wellington, was suggested by Mr. R. J. Jones, secretary of the Wellington Amateur Radio Society, at a meeting of the executive of the Auckland Listeners’ League in the week-end. Members of the Auckland executive are to consider the proposal and communicate their decision to the Well ington society as soon as possible. If the proposal is approved, other societies will affiliate. Mr. Jones said that the New Zeuland Radio Broadcasting Company had entered into a new agreement with the Postmaster-General, W'hich meant that it had secured a two years’ extension ol the old agreement of five years. Tentative plans of the company’s proposals for Wellington were outlined by Mr. Jones. It was proposed to have a mid-day session, an afternoon session from 2.30 to 5 p.m., a children’s session from 6 p.m. to 6.30, a farmers’ session, with instructive lectures in addition to musical items, between 6.30 and 7.30 p.m., and an evening session beginning at 8 p.m. It was proposed to hold these sessions daily except on Wednesdays, which the company proposed to make a silent day to permit of overhauling the plant. The Wellington Radio Society had requested the company to provide a programme for the ordinary listener from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. everevening, including Wednesdays. LACK OF CONFIDENCE A.t the conference between Messrs. Harris and Goodfellow and thti Wellington Society, the directors stated that the company had lost money the first year but held its own the second year. Mr. Jones stated that prior to the conference the Wellington executive had no confidence in the company, but after it they were prepared to take the company’s promises at their face value. On behalf of the Wellington Society Mr. Jones had agreed with the follow ing seven points: 1 That control of broadcasting ii New Zealand should not be vested ii the hands of two men only. 2. That the solution lay in the takin? over by the Government on the in force in England. 3. After two years running Wellington listeners had lost all confidence ii the company’s administration. 4. That the interview with the com pany\s directors produced nothing bu generalities in answer to Wellingtoi listeners’ protests, except that the ar rangements for the staffing of the nev 2YA were satisfactory. 6. That no definite undertaking o the acquiring of a competent radio en gineer was given. 6. That they did not hold with th< refusal to disclose the financial statement of the company. 7. That the Wellington executive be asked to co-operate with the Auckland League in appealing to ail Wellington members of Parliament to support Auckland’s request for Government control.