RADIO tea AND ITS RECEIVERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 326, 11 April 1928, Page 12

RADIO tea AND ITS RECEIVERS

Conducted for THE SUN by

C. M. TAYLOR, B.Sc., M.I.R.E.

LISTENERS’ LEAGUE SCHEME FOR CO-OPERATION The executive of the Auckland Listeners’ League, the strongest numerically of the various leagues in New Zealand, igonsidered that the plan put forward by the Broadcasting Company did not give promise of real cooperation and has submitted a scheme to the company. The committee dealing with the Church relays which has come into being in Auckland recently seems to have had rather a troubled beginning and the two biggest churches, the Anglicans and the Presbyterians, do not appear to be satisfied with the outlined arrangements, although other churches are evidently satisfied, even to the extent of praising the Broadcasting Company during the course of a broadcast service. The writer had a portable traveller set away at Rotorua over the holidays and there appeared the need of some such person as an official listener to inform the powers that be how the New Zealand stations come in there. Auckland was fair speaker strength, Christchurch very good speaker, Wellington moderate phone strength only. In fact 2BL and 2FC were both almost equal to Auckland in volume. This was so on three separate evenings, so it appears as if there is a real need in this direction. This would be a matter purely between the Post and Telegraph Department and the Broading Company to arrange, as the district radio inspectors are the best qualified men to judge on transmission matters. The following is' the scheme outlined by the Auckland Listeners’ League: THE A.L.L. SCHEME 1. It is recognised as essential to the welfare of broadcasting that some definite system should exist whereby those in control of the service, and those enjoying the benefits for which they pay annual fees, should act together in every possible way, so that our radio service may be consistently advanced. To reach this goal a concrete plan, definite in detail, workable, and acceptable to all parties, is necessary. The following proposals are submitted to this end. 2. There shall be created a National Radio Board, the duties of which are hereafter outlined, and a District Radio Committee associated with each station, in an advisory capacity. The constitution and powers of these bodies should be:

3. National Radio Board (constitution) : Two representatives of the Radio Broadcasting Co., two representatives of licensed listeners, one from each island, and the Postmaster-Gen-eral or his deputy, who shall preside at all meetings. 4. The listeners* representatives on the National Board shall be appointed, one by the senior magistrate of each island, for a period of two years. Such representatives must be radio licensees nominated by at least 25 licensed listeners, such nominations to be published in the daily Press. In making the appointment the magistrate shall take into consideration the ability of the nominees to conserve the inter-

ests of the listeners. The listeners’ representatives shall not be (a) employees of the State; (b) employees of any person or firm directly interested financially in the Radio Broadcasting Co., or serving that company in any capacity; (c) a member of the executive of any radio league or society. SCOPE OF THE BOARD 5. The scope of the National Board shall embrace: (a) Confidential access to the financial operations of the company; (b) consideration of full details of the general policy and the programme policy of the company; (c) the advising of the district committees regarding the programme policy: (d) adjudication on matters brought before it by district committees, and recommendation of action on suggestions placed before it by the Broadcasting Company, the P. and T. Department, radio leagues, the radio trade, and individual listeners; (e) advising generally in all matters appertaining to the advancement of broadcasting, and particularly with regard to the issue of further transmitting licences; (f) the submission, after each meeting, of its recommendations to the company, who shall be required to act thereon, provided always that the company shall have the right of appeal to the Minister should it consider any recommendation inoperable; (g) the issuing to the Press of such report of its deliberations as the board may consider to be in the interests of the public: (h) the fixing of the board’s meetings at intervals not exceeding three months and (at its first meeting) the arrangement for paying the expenses of its members. STATION COMMITTEES 6. At each station controlled by the company there shall be set up a district advisory committee consisting of the local station director or another representative of the company, a duly appointed representative of licensed listeners, and the district radio inspector or his deputy, who shall preside. This committee shall have the power to co-opt for any special purpose the services of any individual whose advice may be of benefit to their deliberations.

7. The listeners’ representative shall be nominated by at least 20 licensees of the postal district served by the station, the district telegraph engineer to make from the list of nominations an appointment for a period of 12 months. The appointee must be resident within convenient distance to attend weekly meetings, and his appointment must conform with the conditions enumerated for the appointment of listeners’ representatives on the National Board. ADVANTAGES Briefly summarised, the advantages of the above scheme are: It in no way trespasses on the rights of the company. It gives the listeners direct interest in the service of which they are the sole financial support. It should allay existing discontent with the broadcasting service and its control. It will create a spirit of desirable rivalry among the different stations. It will be inexpensive in operation. It will encourage outside support by demonstrating that there is simple and

effective co-operation between company and subscribers. It will not be unwieldy and nebulous as are the series of schemes submitted by the Radio Broadcasting Company. It provides a definite means of bringing about a rapproachement between company and listeners. DUTIES OF LOCAL COMMITTEES 8. The duties of District Radio Committees shall be: (a) To receive from the company confidential particulars of the money available for programmes at the stations; (b) to recommend to the company the expenditure of this money on the most suitable programmes, and to submit such programmes for the company’s approval or otherwise; (c) to endeavour to arrange and to allot times for specialised broadcasting, such as religious, sporting, concert programmes, orchestral and other relays, and to make recommendations to the company for the efficient conduct of these; (d) to exploit fully the field of talent available for each station, to investigate the possibilities of broadcasting suitable novelties, to approach visitors capable of providing interesting items, and to make recommendations to the company in connection therewith; (e) to recommend any features that will popularise radio, particularly in country districts; (f) to act as a connecting link between listeners, dealers, and all bodies interested in broadcasting on the one hand, and the company on the other; (g) generaly to render all such assistance and advice- as will tend to improve the programmes of the station concerned.