GOVERNMENT AND RADIO

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 1

GOVERNMENT AND RADIO

AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION STATE OWNERSHIP NOT URGED By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright SYDNEY, Wednesday. The report of the Wireless Commission does not recommend Government ownership or management of broadcasting, provided that the Amalgamated Wireless Company will agree to certain specified conditions. Failing compliance it recommends chat the Commonwealth should acquire the shares in the company which are now privately held, and that prior to the acquisition of such shares the company should take steps to obtain a decision on the question of the validity of its patents. WIRELESS PROBLEMS

Proposals are made for a reduction in patent and copyright charges, and for the benefit to go to the listeners in the form of reduced licence fees. The report recommends that the Government should appoint a wireless committee, consisting of the director of the postal services as chairman, and two other members with special knowledge of wireless, to teal with wireless problems generally throughout the Commonwealth. This commission is regarded as being necessary owing to the increased volume of wireless communication and broadcasting. Another recommendation is the alteration of wave-lengths. BEAM SYSTEM

Regarding beam wireless, the commission says serious differences have arisen between the Federal Post Office and the directors of the beam system regarding the payment of terminal and other charges. Tile commission recommends that the company should pay the terminal charges. Failing this the Government is urged to take control of the beam service. It is further recommended that for the protection of .he interests of newspapers in news, broadcasting stations shall not transmit news from any newsI paper vdthout the prior consent in writing of the proprietors of the newspaper. and upon payment of fees to bo fixed for the use of the service. The Association for the Development of Wireless in Australia and New Zealand will ask the Prime Minister of Australia. Mr. S. II Bruce, to have the recommendations of the Wireless Commission brought into operation immediately.—A. and N.Z.