RADIO CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1938, Page 5

RADIO CONTROL

RESTRICTED OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSION ESTIMATES BROUGHT ON LATE IN DAY PROTEST AND CRITICISM BY OPPOSITION (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The Minister has deliberately brougnt the consideration of this account on at this time to stifle discussion,” said Mr J. Hargest (Opposition, Awarua) during a very short consideration of the Broadcasting Department estimates in the House of Representatives last night. “I think we are entitled to enter an emphatic protest at the Government bringing down this account at this stage, on a Friday night members are all anxious to catch trains and steamers.” The estimates were introduced at 6.20 p.m. and at 6.40, after an amendment by the Rt Hon J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara), that the vote be reduced by £5, had been defeated on a division, the vote was passed. Mr Coates’s amendment was that the vote be reduced by £5 as “an indication that:

“(1) The service should be under the control of one department and one director. “(2) That the conduct of the commercial stations has been used in a manner that conflicts against and with the good conscience and public administration.” The question went to a division and was defeated by 40 votes to 11.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Adam Hamilton, said that the funds of the national stations had been built up in a way that was unrivalled by any other organisation in New Zealand, but in contrast, the commercial stations had succeeded in losing money. The whole of the substantial capital and assets of the national stations had been built up out of listeners’ fees. A FINANCIAL CONTRAST “Compare that with the commercial stations,” said Mr Hamilton. “Their revenue was about £98,000 for the year, but it cost about £105,000 to get that revenue. The principles of finance just don’t seem to enter into the question at all.” The Rev C. L. Carr (Government, Timaru): “How long have the commercial stations been operating?” Mr Hamilton: “That does not matter. They are like the railways and one or two other departments that we have discussed today—the longer they go on the more they lose. They have lost £ll,OOO since they started.” ■ Mr Hamilton said that a comparison of the staffs required for the two services was illuminating. The national service required 197 employees to operate 10 stations, and the commercial service 299 to operate four. The Minister of Education, the Hon P. Fraser: “What the hon gentleman is trying to get at is whether the staff is required to provide the service.” Mr Hamilton: “No. I am comparing the two services. One is financial and the other is losing money. What I do protest against is that the broadcasting service as a whole requires two directors and two separate departments. In England, with a population of 46,000,000, they have one control, but in New Zealand, with a population of 1,500,000 we have two different systems.” CONCESSION SUGGESTED Mr H. G. Dickie (Opposition, Patea) asked the Minister to take into consideration the remission of licence fees to those who were in distress, such as confirmed invalids who were given radio by charitable institutions. “We are entitled to enter an emphatic protest against the Government bringing this account down at this stage,” said Mr Hargest. “We have done a good day’s work, and have passed seven most difficult Estimates. The Minister has deiberately put this on to stifle discussion. I want to make the strongest possible protest.” Mr Fraser: “I assure the hon member that his protest has been duly noted.” Mr Hargest: “Here we are with only three-quarters of an hour before members must catch trains and steamers, and we are asked to debate this most important vote.” Mr Fraser: “You can have the whole night if you like.” “The losses of the commercial stations amount to £ll,OOO in the first 18 months of their life,” said Mr Hargest. “It is a monopoly, and a loss of £7OOO for one year is nothing short of scandalous. I am not trying to reflect on the honesty, but on the capacity, of the people who are running it.” Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Opposition, Riccarton) exhibited a folder issued by the commercial service for the opening of its first station. The front page of the folder was completely taken up with a photograph of the director of commercial broadcasting, and on the back page, were three small photographs, among theme one of the Minister. “Here we have Scrim on the front and the Minister relegated to the back.” said Mr Kyle. A Government member: “A fine looking chap.” . Mr Kyle: “Yes. A ring-in. This folder quotes the director as saying that the commercial service would be established and run without any call on the listeners’ fees, but the service has been established with listeners fees.” ■