MR. HOLLAND AND HIS "STINK-BOMB."

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 16, 2 November 1928, Page 6

MR. HOLLAND AND HIS "STINK-BOMB."

ONI soit qui mal y pense. Judging by his public statements (if this ancient but succinct saying 1s correct), Mr. Holland must enjoy a particularly evil mind. In speaking in the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday evening last, he launched what had previously been heralded by his lieutenant, Mr. McKeen, as a "bombshell" but which "1 effectiveness and noisesomeness proved to be but a "stink bomb," as it was aptly described by the Prime Minister. Mr. Holland professed to trace a connection between the collapse of dairy control and certain views expressed thereon by Mr. Goodtellow, and the granting of a loan of £15,000 to the Radio Broadcasting Company by the Government. His hearers were invited to believe that the loan of £15,000 was a quid pro quo, that, in effect, it was a bribe or reward. Unfortunately for Mr. Holland, his facts and dates are sadly astray. The dairy control incident, to which he referred, occurred in the end of May, 1927. The loan of £15,000 to the Broadcasting Company was authorised by the Government on October 9, 1926, seven months previously. It is scarcely necessary to point out, even to the most obtuse intellect, that the suggestion that the.one was a payment for the other on these facts is futile-even wickedly futile. The suggestion does Mr. Holland no credit-but is an illuminating revelation of his nature and methods. THE £15,000 loan by the Government to the Radio Broadcasting Company has been fully explained time and time again! There are no strings attached to it. It isa plain, common-sense business proposition. The Broadcasting Company entered into an arrangement originally for the installation of four 500-Watt stations throughout New Zealand. Subsequently: on account of the strategic position occupied by Wellington and other reasons of national defence and administration, it was desired to make ZYA more powerful than its fellows. To assist in this objective the Government agreed to advance £15,000 on first mortgage at full interest and with full protective clauses. That the Government is amply protected, not only under the mortgage which it holds over 2YA, but by the ordinary administra‘Hon of the license money of listeners, is clear. Listeners pay their fees in advance, but the money is not immediately paid over to the Broadcasting Company. It is paid out in twelve monthly instalments. The effect of this arrangement is that the Government has regularly a large sum in hand, which it employs in an interest-bearing capacity ; thus not only doubly covering itself in respect of its risk, but also earning a nice little sum by way of interest. [N the 1927 session of Parliament Mr. Holland devoted some effort in the House to attacking the "Radio Record." In doing so he made certain statements which we were obliged to correct. We invited Mr. Holland to play the part of a gentleman and acknowledge his error. He failed to do so. | [N his speech, Mr. Holland also made the charge that, while Government political speeches were broadcast, the propaganda of the Labour Party was not broadcast. This statement is inaccurate. The broadcasting of all political matter is prohibited by the regulations under which the Broadcasting Company operates. Will Mr. Holland be specific and say when and where any political propagandic speech was broadcast by any of the YA stations? We imagine Mr. Holland will find it impossible to do so. | ,

WHAT is Mr. Holland’s grouch against the £15,000 loan? Does he 4 not approve of the Government assisting broadcast listeners to" secure better service and better entertainment than otherwise would have been the case? Would he have preferred listeners to have been denied the excellent service that has been given by 2YA since jts inception. Will’ Mr. Holland be frank and say whether he wishes "to further the interests of listeners and improve their service, or whether he wishes to adopt a dog-in-the-manger policy and prohibit any Government sympathetic encouragement of this modern social amenity? Is Mr. Holland for the listener or against the listener ?