RADIO CONTROL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1938, Page 4

RADIO CONTROL

THE GOVERNMENT PLANS

NO REDUCTION AT PRESENT IN LICENCE FEE. STATEMENT BY MR SAVAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Radio broadcasting was discussed by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, in an interview last evening. The future policy, he said, would be generally the same as that observed at present. He regarded radio as one of the most influential institutions of modern times, more particularly for. its use in the broadcasting of proceedings in Parliament.

Speeches in the House of Representatives, said Mr Savage, would be broadcast in the future as they had been during the past two sessions of Parliament. He knew from communications he received from all parts of the Dominion that the broadcasting of the Parliamentary debates was appreciated. The writers of these letters stated that, as a result of the broadcast debates, they were in a better position to judge what was taking place in Parliament. No one was forced to listen to broadcasts from Parliament, and if they did not like them they could switch over to another station. A short wave transmitting station would ultimately be installed in the Broadcasting Centre it was intended to build in a site at the back of Parliament Buildings. Provision was made in the plans of the centre for such a station. Work on the centre would proceed to a definite plan as the Government found itself in a position to do it. It was not only a question of money but also one-of labour. A great deal had to be done in building in other directions, such as . the provision of homes for the people. ’ “It is more desirable to build up a first-class service and then think of reducing the licence fee afterward,” said Mr Savage, when asked if any reduction in the present fee of 25s a year were contemplated. “The increasing number of listeners indicates that the 25s licence fee is not preventing the people from enjoying the benefits of broadcasting. Naturally everyone wants a service at as low a rate as possible, but to reduce the'fee and 'have a mediocre service is not the right way to go about it. Our first job is to provide a first-class service.”