Points in Reply

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 8, 6 September 1929, Page 2

Points in Reply

OINTS from repliés made. by Mr. A. RR. Harris. to "Pied Piper" may be briefly summarised as follows: Mr. Harris. stated that "Pied Piper" had a wrong conception of the broadcast service. The primary object of that service was to organise and broadcast that which was available, having regard to the general desirability and acceptability of the material to be broadcast, as well as the practicability of putting it over the air. Broadcasting had opened up an entirely new channel of service, and its objects would best be served by restricting it to that service. The company were neither parvenus nor anarchists, but orthodox enough to believe that programmes should follow modern ideas and current events. Instead of endeavouring to educate the public’s musical taste, it was obviously more sound to leave this to- the musical profession and educational institutions, and to co-operate with them. If they were to concentrate on educating the public, they would not be functioning as a broadcast service, and would be diverting or stifling interests that could be widened, in other directions. If,.on the other hand, the Broadcasting Company made available, as far as it was practicable to do so, that which was already available to a limited number, such as broadeasts of classical or operatic music, Shakespearian plays, concerts by amateur organisations, and other public functions or heavy or light entertainment, sporting events, lectures to the farming community or church services, it gave variety, and, ufiider proper regulation, increased diversity of interest, tending, not only to stabilise, but also to establish national consciousness. This was not to interfere with studio concerts of high-class music, but there was a sameness about them from which it was impossible to escape. On the suggestion that the company should employ certain artists nominated by "Pied Piper," Mr. Harris stated that the majority of these had been broadcast. Of the remainder, some had been offered engagements, but had not been available, and, in one particular case, the person concerned had

only recently been available, and a.cone tract was made before "Pied Piper’s’t* statement was written. The compan was keeping in touch with all ayailabl talent in all centres. , As to gramophone records, on which point "Pied Piper’ had stated the company did not make the best selection for broadcasting them immediately they were issued, Mr. Harris pointed out that the use of gramophone records was limited to 25 per cent. of programme time. The company did receive samples of the whole of the recordings imported to New Zealand, and these were competently reviewed and those suitable broadcast at ail stations immediately, either during the dinner, evening or dance sessions. The company used sometimes up, to 2,500 records per month. Jf "Pied Piper" had checked up the facts prior to making his statement, he would have had to listen in, not only to the one stat; but to all four stations for from six to seven hours per.day, and sometimes up to ten or twelve hours per day, in order to ascertain "what was broadcast. On this point it was commented that "Pied Piper" might enjoy a number of records presented to him in return for a boost criticism ‘of the classical and operatic numbers, and, in his articles, might see fit even to advertise the radio set lent him and the concern supplying him with that particular set; but, in doing this at the expense of the Broadcasting Company’s programmes he needed to be sure that he was not allowing a personal interest and prejudice to distract him from taking a wider view of the broadeasting service.. The attack by "Pied Piper" was unreasonable in that he apparently expected to listen in for, one week and get a plethora of classics and operatic music to suit his. own particular taste. Because he did not get that he attacked the broadcast service through the columns of his paper, which ‘was not a practice that would commend itself to listeners. who were paying for the service they were getting, and who appreciated the definite advance that had consistently been made in the service supplied over recent years. It only remains to be added that Mr. Harris’s reply to "Pied Piper" was materially curtailed by the "Sun," and only partly published. .