STRAIGHT HITTING

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 37, 30 March 1928, Page 4

STRAIGHT HITTING

"THE BULLETIN" SPEAKS OUT A recent issue of "The Bulletin’’ contains an article on Atistralian broad. casting, which contains much of interest to New Zealand in its revelation of the attitude of the public to broad, tasting there. Much of what ‘The Bulletin’? addresses to the critics of the Australian stations-which, with their much greater revenue than the New Zealand stations enjoy, are able to give longer hours, etc.-might well be taken to heart by a small section of New Zealand critics. Compared with 8L0’s £98,000 annually, and 2FC’s £57,000, each for operating only one station, the New Zealand company last year operated four stations on a year’s income of approximately £40,000, or an average of £10,000 each. That is a straight-out comparison which hag weight, and makes more applicable than ever ‘The Bulletin’s’? remarks, as follow:- . "Much of the current criticism of the broadcast programmes is_ ill-informed and unfair. It obviously emanates from the kind of Anstralian (too num erous, unfortunately) who delights in depreciating ihe work of other Australians, and running down eminent fellow-countrymen when they return from abroad lt would be wore gen erous and more truthful to acknowledge that the broadcasting companies have kept a fowl in the pot for many clever show people in slack periods, haxe provided opportunities for a surprising mumber of gifted young musicians and the like, who would other. wise have found it difficult to get a hearing, and have done at least a little for native-born composers and play-wrights-may they do a lot more! In any case, nothing is to be gained by butting into their Lvsiness in the fashion of meddling politicians. The stations should be inade to understand that Australia expects them to do their full share in bringing the benefits of broadcasting to the widest possible public at the cheapest possible rate, without sacrificing merit to cheapness. But threats and kicks are not likely to do any good. Neither is ‘‘nationalisation,’? on which some foolish people have set their hearts.’’