LEADING PAPER SPEAKS OUT

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 4, 12 August 1927, Page 4

LEADING PAPER SPEAKS OUT

IRRATIONAL "CONSTANT CARPING." A commonsense view of the broadcast sitnation in New Zealand and a desetved rebuke to the policy of constant varping maintained in some quarters was contained in an editorial in ‘The Dominion" newspaper following on the recent discussion in Parliament upon the £15,000 loan granted to the Radio Broadcasting Company. As we show elsewhere, this loan was made to facilitate the erection of 2YA, which the technical experts of the Government tecommended should be made mvure powerful than originally planned in the agreement with the company. ‘the company originally undertook responsibilities for £20,000, and far exceeded its obligations in the financial commitments entered npon. ‘To provide a £27,000 plant chiefly for Empire reasons was, however, beyond the original proposal, and hence it was only reasonable that the Government, to satisfy its own considered plans, should extend a temporary Ican ot £15,000 to the company. Upon this peg the Official Opposition fastened, and the discussion evoked this editorial comment, which is worth reproduction: | A good deal of interest attaches to | the discussion on broadcasting which took place in the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening, The number of listeners-in in New, Zealand is rapidly increasing, and it is only a matter of a few years’ time before something like 20 or 30 per cent. of the population may be expected to have their sets-and find instruction and pleasure from wireless news and entertainments. . Most of the criticism indulged in by members was of the carping nature we have grown so accustomed to in these days. It is most wearisome and uninspiring. The Government has assisted the Broadcasting Company with a loan

‘to enable it to develop its services 1 the country, ‘Therefore, the Governe ‘ment is damned. Had the Government refused this assistance then ‘the same ‘people would have risen in their places and doubly damned the Government, How stupid it all is. How unhelpful. _ There has been ground for complaint amongst listeners-in on account of thé guality of some of the programmes broadcast. The inferior service given was almost entirely due to lack of funds. More funds were necessary to secure the best type of broadcasting plant, and also in order to place the whole service on a stronger footing. The Government assisted by way of loan to secure some of the plant re quired, and to-day the service is in ali respects greatly improved. As the Prime Minister stated, it has been, and still is, in its pioneering stage, and those who set ont to build up the ser vice faced the risks necessarily involved, The Government left those risks to pri« vate enterprise, and wisely so. At the proper time, should occasion arise, the Government can take over the charge’ of broadcasting. But that is for the future to decide. In the meantime it is only right and just that the Broadcasting Company should be given a fair trial. In recent weeks it has made great improvements in the service given, and to-day, cons. sidering all the circumstances, listen« ers-in shoald be very well pleased with the progress recorded. There is a ten» dency in some quarters to expect too much, With four stations to support and four separate entertainments to provide, the Broadcasting Company is set a heavy task with a comparatively small population such as New Zealand possesses to look to for support. A$ the number of listeners-in increases more money should be available for im proving matters, Helpful criticism should be welcomed, but the constant carping by disgruntled factions merely causes irritation and ill-feeling,