Inventive Genius

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 3, 2 August 1929, Page 7

Inventive Genius

Members Complain COMPLAINT that "red-tape methods" of the Post and Telegraph Department were strangling the inventive genius of young New Zealanders in the field of research was made by Mr. HE. J. Howard (Christchureh South), when speaking jin the House of Representatives on Friday, states "The Dominion." Mr. Howard said that of the remarkable array of apparatus exhibited at the radio exhibition in the Wellington Town Hall not one piece was the product of the brain of a New Zealander, which showed how the Post and Telegraph Department’s red tape methods were preventing young men from mak‘ing developments in the industry. It was a hard thing to say, but New Zealand was living on the brains of other people, and paying dearly for them, because Government Departments by their policy were preventing developments in science and industry. He did -not want to be unfair to the Postmas-ter-General (Hon. J. B. Donald), as he had just taken over--A voice: He has taken over the rubber stamp.

The Rev. C. L. Carr (Timaru) hoped that the Post and Telegraph Department would review its decision -and make it possible for young enthusiasts not in good circumstances to pay their license fees quarterly. He said that as she supplied’ most of the world’s radio goods, and also produced gramophones and films, America certainly seemed to have won the war. He went on to refer to the B class radio stations, and asked for sympathetic Government consideration of these. . The Postmaster-General (Hon. J. B. Donald) said the member for Christchurch South had stated that the De-’ partment was making a good thing out of radio, but actually the Department was losing on the radio business. . Mr. Howard:-But what in? What are they doing? Great Scott! a! Mr. Donald said that he did not wish to be a stumbling-block to old and young people interested in radio. Mr. Howard would find that he was not the rubber stamp he thought he was. He thought that New Zealand was served fairly well by the Radio Company, although there might be room for improvement. Regarding. B stations, he said that applications made for these would be granted if the Department ‘were satisfied that the equipment was good and that the stations would not interfere with others: With regard to a suggestion that some of these stations wished to carry out advertising on the air, Mr. Donald said that already that question had been gone into and would be considered. further on the return from England of Mr. G. -MecNamara,. Secretary to the Department. The decision would be announced then. Mr. R. Semple (Wellington East): What are you going to do about the fees? . ; Mr. Donald said that that subject could be dealt with later. . . Mr. W. D. Lysnar’ (Gisborne) referred to the lack of New Zealand news on ships travelling from New Zealand to other countries, and urged the Government to do something in this matter,