RADIO FOR PRIMARY PRODUCERS.

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 52, 12 July 1929, Page 6

RADIO FOR PRIMARY PRODUCERS.

HE organisation of a Primary Producers’ Advisory Committee by the Radio Broadcasting Company is a move in the right direction. The meeting to establish this Committee was held in Christchurch last week, and was of a fully representative character. Full report of that meeting appears elsewhere. The purpose underlying the establishment of the Committee is to ensure that the service which radio can render to the man on the land shall be organised on the best basis possible; that the matter to be given over the air shall be of such a character and at such times as to most fully serve his needs. To that end, the advice and co-operation of those bodies most closely eoncerned with advancing the welfare of the primary producer have been sought. This policy is in line with the action taken by the Broadcasting Company in other fields, such as music, drama, religion, and the children. In those fields, the Committee system has achieved an outstanding success. Its success should be no less in the new field to which it is now applied. "THAT radio has a special capacity for serving the man on the land is undoubted. It is becoming more and more recognised that science can contribute abundantly to improving farming operations. In every sphere of activity to-day, the farmer is looking to science to render aid. The fruit-grower, the dairyman, the wheat-grower, the wool-grower, and the agricultural farmer, all have their special problems to the solution of which they invite the aid of science. While the central organisations of farmers in each field are keen that science should render its service, the next problem is to convey the knowledge provided by science to the great body of the farmers most intimately concerned. Knowledge is of little use if it is merely corked or bottled up in a central compartment. To be effective, it must be made liquid, must be made readily available to those who can benefit from its diffusion. The printing press in the past has been the main means of distributing scientific information. It has multiplied the capatity of the individual teacher and his personal contact considerably. Even so, however, it does not reach many sections. The farmer ‘in most cases is not as big a reader as he should be. On the othe: hand, he is a very good listener. He is a very good debater. He likes to talk. He is, therefore, pre-eminently fitted for instruction by radio, He will listen where he will not concentrate by reading.

QN this line of thought radio is specially adapted for serving the rural community by promptly conveying the latest scientific discoveries and instruction in the problems affecting their every-day work in pro~duction. At present, old-time methods of farming and lack of knowledge in relation to certain diseases which are taking a regular toll of live stock and plant life, are materially reducing the economic efficiency of the country. Probably no class of the community derives so much economic benefit already as the farming comrfhunity from radio. The weather report alone possesses a cash value to most farmers that is far above the cost of operation, The further radio service now contemplated will add immeasurably to their debt. Radio is essential to the farmer, and the organisation of that service along the lines now indicated is a community service of the highest value, LPO"