THE RADIO PROPOSALS.

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 14, 17 October 1930, Page 4

THE RADIO PROPOSALS.

IN writing last week we accepted the Postmaster-General’s statement, made by him in the House of Representatives upon the broadcasting service, as being a considered and decisive one. It now appears from his further remarks that this is not so, and that his words do not convey the full face value ascribed to them. The position seems to be that, while the Minister has decided that the Radio Broadcasting Company’s license will not be renewed, decision has not been reached yet in regard to the extent of the Government’s course of action at the termination of the Company’s contract. The Minister seems to have adopted in broad outline the scheme for expansion submitted to him by the Company itself some two years back, under which it was prepared itself to undertake the capital expenditure involved in the erection of the necessary subsidiary stations under conditions involving an extension of the contract and adjustment of the term of the license fee. While the Company doubtless had worked out in detail the cost of the exact proposals made by it, it does not appear that the Government, on the Minister’s statement, had made a similar examination of the facts and the costs involved. Hence the Minister’s disclaimer to the effect that the scheme was still "in the melting-pot" awaiting finality in regard to the extent of the stations to be erected, their cost, and-most important from the listeners’ point of view-decision as to the measures to be taken to provide programmes from the main and subsidiary stations, once they were erected. In those circumstances it is practically impossible to subject to analytical discussion proposals which are not yet clear-in fact, since the proposals are so nebulous, the question might be asked

why was the statement made at this stage? Quite rightly, in view of the importance of the proposals to listeners, -the Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, raised the question in the House of Representatives and sought from the Minister an assurance thay Parliament, as matters of policy were involved, would have the. opportunity of discussing them before financial commitments were entered into. This assurance the Postmaster-General gave, and there the matter rests, presumably till next session. The intervening time, it may be expected, will be employed by the Government and the departmental experts in clarifying their ideas, so as to be assured of producing a scheme which will definitely give listeners that improvement in programmes and performances which alone will warrant so important and drastic a change in policy. The cost of effecting such improvement will inevitably have a bearing upon the public recognition of its merits. AN interesting feature of the situation has been the measurefof comment evoked in the daily Press upon the Government’s proposals. Most of the leading newspapers discussed the matter editorially, and, in broad terms, viewed the Minister’s statement unfavourably, Even Government journals questioned the wisdom of the scheme. Opposition was based mainly upon the ground of it being unnecessary to invest public money at a time when conditions are bad ina venture which private enterprise had shown itself capable of adequately fulfilling. Further opposition was based upon lack of confidence in economical administration of a public utility by a Government department, particularly in a field where individuality and enterprise are so necessary as is the case here. Definite danger was foreseen of costs unduly mounting by reason of the fact that the Government, and not a private company, was concerned. Dread, too, that the broadcasting service, once under definite Government control, would be ‘subject to political manipulation was expressed. Altogether the reception by the Press of the Government proposals is not favourable. This opposition, particularly in the conditions obtaining now, is significant. AS we pointed out last week, two main interests are involved: first, that" of the listener himself; secondly, that of the taxpayer. Proposals for betterment will inevitably find favour with the listener. It is important, however, that those proposals shall involve real and permanent betterment, and not be of a character which, giving temporary advantage, may ultimately leave a train of dissatisfaction. From the taxpayer’s point of view, he is primarily concerned that benefit to the few shall not be at the expense of the many; in other words, that the service supplied by radio-whether it be regarded as a luxury or a necessity to those benefiting-shall be self-supporting, and not a national charge. We and listeners are wholly concerned with the development of the radio service on a basis likely to be permanently satisfactory. Hence the proposals of the Government, when finally clarified, will need to satisfy searching examination. Trade interests themselves are investigating the position with a keen scrutiny, and it is significant that their reaction, as in the case of the Press, is far from being wholly favourable to the suggestions made by the Minister.