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Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 42, 3 May 1929, Page 6

NOT yet has finality been reached by the Auckland City Counci! in relation to the broadcasting of the Auckland Municipal City Band, but it is a tolerably live matter in the local politics of that city. The immediate position is that the 1YA Musical and Dramatic Committee recently discussed the matter and made the suggestidn that the Auckland City Council should. undertake reconsideration and permit the Band being broadcast. Popular as the Band is, it is definitely to be noted that listenérs in general, on the facts -as given, are quite averse to an unnecessarily high fee being paid the City Council. In a nutshell, the City, Council spends upwards of £200" per annum in providing band and organ music for the citizens of Auckland. The Broadcasting Company is prepared to pay a fee of £350 for the right to broadcast the Band recitals (although some are given free to the public!). The Council’ wishes to compel the Broadcasting Autliorities to pay £500, and to take what neither broadcasters nor listeners want, viz., the organ recitals as well as the band concerts. [T is felt by the Broadcasting Company that the sum of £500 is ' ‘unduly high. In order that Auckland listeners should not be deprived of band music, the Company arranged for the services of the Auckland Artillery Band at a fee léss than that sought for the Municipal Band. This band is rendering satisfactory service ‘to listeners, as correspondence which has appeared in our columns definitely shows. WE refer to this matter again at this stage‘in order to allude to a statement made by Mr. G. Baildon, Mayor of the City of Auckland. Mr, Baildon is reported to have said that the Broadcasting Company was making huge profits out of the funds provided by listeners, and that accordingly, by inference, it could well afford to pay the fee demanded by the Auckland City Council for the Municipal Band. May we invite Mr. Baildon to specifically state how he knows this to be a fact? Our understanding of the position, from information available to us, is that, far from making a profit last year, the Radio Broadcasting Company of: New Zealand, L-td.. overspent its’ revenue to the tune of £3000! In those circumstances, it would seem that a false aspect of the position has been given to the public by the statement made, and the amende honorable is called for. Far from concentrating upon undue profits (which its agreement debars it from making), it has been the definite aim of

the Broadcasting Company to improve and expand to the fullest degree possible the service being given. To this end it is its duty to resist demands such as are made by the Auckland Council, and see that it pays no more than is necessary for services for listeners. [NCIDEN TALLY, opportunity presents itself for comparison between the enterprise of Auckland City and that of Wellington, Wellington, amongst its municipal enterprises, has no Municipal Band absorbing 42000 per annum. Wellington, however, has two very competent and efficient bands, which jointly provide the public regularly throughout the-winter season with very excelient Sunday night concerts. These concerts are broadcast by Station 2YA, and constitute definitely one of the enjoyable features of the week. ‘Lhese concerts represent a triumph of private enterprise efficiently managed. The Bands organise their concerts as successful tinancial ventures. They employ and pay for the best local talent available. ‘Lhe public responds so satisfactorily to the fare offered that all expenses at met and a reasonable margin provided. Auckland has a population’ twice that of the.City of Wellington. ‘Lhe private enterprise of¥ Wellington provides its citizens with two bands, which | regularly present fine concerts. Auckland, despite its double population and its maintenance of a £2000 a year municipal band, runs a business system of alternate free and "cnarge" concerts which, however satistactory the former may be to those attending, leaves a deficit for the ratepayers to meet. ihe plain facts are that, while thus spending £2000 a year for music, the Auckland City Council refuses to recoup itself to the extent of £350 a year availaple for the right of broadcasting the band concerts. Instead, it demands £500 tor the band plus the organ-and nobody wants the organ! So #£35U goes begging--or at least is diverted in part to the Artillery Band,