The Plight of Gisborne

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 43, 10 May 1929, Page 8

The Plight of Gisborne

Question of Permanent Programmes To the Editor.

IR,-Your leading article of issue Friday, April 19, contains the following paragraph: "When Sir Joseph Ward was recently in Gisborne a deputution from local radio enthusiasts waited upon him to urge, among other things, the payment of a subsidy to the local station. ‘The arguments advanced in favour of this course were that crystal users in Gisborne and its immediate locality were unable to receive the transmissions of any of the YA stations. They secure their sole entertainment from the locally-control-led station. The revenue from their license fees went, however, to the Radio Broadcasting Company, from whose stations these particular listeners were unable to secure any benefit. Tt was accordingly asked that arrangements should be made that the revenue from local listeners should be diverted to the support of the local station." In addition to this quotation you candidly admit the general disabilities surrounding all grades of listeners in this district as far as the YA transmissions are concerned, and I for one appreciate your sympathy. I am not aware of your source of information, but your reference to the disposition of revenue from Gisborne listeners is absolutely incorrect. As the spokesman on behalf of the deputation mentioned, allow me to state emphatically that at no time was any suggestion or hint made to Sir Joseph Ward as to

disposition of any revenue from listeners’ license fees. The question of any form of subsidy to our local station, 2ZM, was never mooted. Please make that clear to your readers, The deputation dealt entirely and solely with the question of adequate and efficient supply of programmes, and insisted upon some means being evolved whereby a stable and efficient service of programmes should be supplied to all licensees from whom the 30s. per annum fee was demanded. The fact that such a large percentage of Gisborne listeners were entirely dependent upon our local amateur transmitter for entertainment through inability to receive the YA stations was the foundation of our plaint, for we realised the unstable position of those who had secured licenses and would be left "in the air’ should the local station choose to cease operating, as his option provided. The deputation made it definitely clear to the Prime Minister that we were not concerned how or by what means the stability of service to those listeners was brought about. We considered that as the Radio Broadcasting Company are receiving nearly 90 per vent. of the total from license fees that it is an obligation on their part to make provision to supply an efficient and adequate service to all listeners from whose fee they (the company) are collecting such a large percentage.

If the R.B.C. are not prepared to supply the goods on demand why should they expect payment for that which they do not, will not, or cannot supply to all who are prepared to pay?. Had 2 minimum range receiver been specified before a license was issued, the Broadcasting Company to receive a percentage only on those receivers’ licehses which came on and above that minimum, that would have eased the position. It is certainly hard. lines for a lad to pay out 380s. and have the risk of not even hearing a statiou for his outlay, while the Broadcasting Company receive 25s. of his money and never supply him with anything. You agree that our arguments are unassailable from a local point of view, and the same arguments apply to all dis: tricts similarly situated. We must insist that while the Government colleets our 30s. and hands over 25s. of it to the Broadcasting Company, that the Government must find ways and means to compel an adequate and efficient service to all paying the fee. The question of how the demand is met does not concern us. A new station may be erected, the relay system may be used, or an arrangement with a local operator may be made. These matters are details of business the entire concern of the Broadcasting Com pany. If this cannot be done the only option left is to seek revision of the licensing system, to secure payments for goods delivered to those prepared to deliver according to the limits which such delivery can be assured. It may even end in New Zealand haying to follow Australia’s lead and bring all broadeasting under State control A fair and square deal is all that is asked for, without frills-Sam. J. Pearson, 14 Parau Street, Gisborne. [We are glad to publish this letter. The newspaper report we perused certainly gave us the impression that the request that the Government should see that crystal users in Gisborne were given guaranteed receptions of programmes meant in plain language that the money from those crystal licenses should be diverted to the local station and local programmes. The argument now advanced means that any person anywhere in New Zealand who purchases a crystal or short-range receiying set and takes out a license should thereby expect to have a station made permanently available to him. If all were "compelled" to purchase crystal sets and become licensed listeners there would be weight in this argument that compensating service should be given. The purchase of a shortrange receiving set is entirely voluntary, and it is surely stretching things to argue that because people in distant localities choose to buy crystal sets which are incapable of taking them to Mahomet, then Mahomet should _ be taken to them! So stated the proposition becomes to an extent ridiculous in our present state of development. We believe that the solution of the problem for scattered and distant listeners will be the provision of relay stations at strategic points, and if the keenness of our Gisborne friends hastens that day we will be very glad. In the meantime, however, it is hardly in good taste to allege a breach of faith on the part of either the Government or the Broadcasting Company, because distant listeners equip themselves with apparatus incapable of receiving the service that is provided from central stations necessarily located to serve the majority -Hd.]

[= is a name that is well-known in the theatrical world-Bland Holt -and the name of Mr. Albert Bland Holt, junr., is also well known. At present on a visit to relatives in Christchurch after an absence of fifteen years from New Zealand, he will broadcast from 3YA on Friday, May 17. His items will be humorous and dramatie monologues. Throughout his stage career Mr. Holt has played many parts in vaudeville, drama and pantomime in all parts of the world,