Dealers Want a Radio Board

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 52, 10 July 1931, Page 6

Dealers Want a Radio Board

Deputation Presents Views to. Postmaster-General

THE viewpoint that the radio service of the Dominion should be placed under the control of a corporation of not more than five members, appointed by the Government, but entirely removed from political control, with representation of listeners, the trade and the Government, was placed before the Postmaster-General on Tuesday last by a deputation of radio dealers. The Minister, in thanking the deputation for the expression of its views, said that the matter was before Cabinet for final consideration, and so could not yet be discussed by him. He, however, expressed the opinion _ that the service should belong to the people, and they should have ‘a voice in its control.

N outlining the views of the deputation, Mr. C. J. Ralph, speaking as chairman of the Central Executive, said that the question of broadcasting had been exercising the minds of an increasing number of people in New Zealand for some years, Interest in the subject had increased lately, as the system of control to be adopted when the company’s lease ran out at the end of the year had soon to be decided. The trade section of radio had attained large proportions, and the revenue from this source had reached something approaching £10,000. A great deal of capital had been invested in the industry, and the traders were naturally very vitally interested in any radical changes in the method of control. Radio had become a public utility and had to be looked at from. a national standpoint. The resolution which he would place before the Minister had the unanimous backing of the radio trade in New Zealand. He wished to

emphasise that it had been carefully thought out and discussed from all angles. The resolution was as follows :- ‘ "On behalf of the radio dealers of New Zealand affiliated to the New Zealand Electrical Federation we submit that the national systemapart from the B Class station sys-tem-of radio broadcasting (should be regarded as 2 public monopoly; that on the expiration of the licence of

the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Limited, control should be vested in 2 corporation not exceeding five members, including the chairman, and appointed by the Government, but entirely removed from political control; that the secretary of this body shall be a registered public accountant, entirely . ‘under the direction of the corporation and not a Public Servant, and that the radio trade and listeners shall have representation on the cor-

poration. Further, that the dealers nominate three representatives to the Government for selection." Mr. Ralph asked whether the Minister could elaborate on the views which he had already put before the public. The Minister replied that he was sorry he could not do so. Parliament might think he was usurping their authority. : i Mr. Ralph said that he hoped tha, when the proposals were in a more conerete form it would be possible to ,, submit them tio the trade to look over before being finally adopted. B.B.C, Suggested as Model, Rk. R. H. NIMMO said that the service given by. the Broadcasting Company had been inadequate, particularly as regards the requirements of dealers and demonstrators. Even now Wellington was the only centre receiving the service to which it was entitled, and there was no guarantee that this would continue. He claimed that a public utility such as broadcasting should not be entrusted to a private company conducted for the profit of its shareholders, but should be regarded as a public monopoly. The radio deaiers considered that the nearest prac- \ ticable approach to the ideal system was gomething on the lines of the British Broadeasting Corporation, and strict precautions should be taken to prevent any form of political eontrol. Broadcasting did not lend itself to administration by. a Government department, which had not sufficient fiexibility. The proposed corporation would encounter no financial difficulty, as an ‘ample revenue from listeners’ fees Was as sured. Although radio dealers had difficulty in deciding on the ideal system, they finally thought the most desirable of all feasible schemes would be one embodying four main features, viz. :-- (a) Public ownership and monopoly. (b) Direction by a corporation entirely removed from political control: (c) The radio trade and the listeners, to have representation on the corpor tion. r (d) All property to be vested in the" eorporation and all surpluses to be ~ used for the betterment-of the services. Non-political Control. THD resolution which had been handed to the Minister had amplified these points in certain respects. The trade was definitely of the opinion that administration of the services by & Government Department was not feasi-ble-there was a lack of flexibility and. a danger that the whole thing -would be tied up with red tape and officialdom. Also, the Minister in charge of the’ Department would no doubt be- , subject to pressure in favour of certain * localities, particular artists, etc., and this pressure he would find it difficult to withstand. ; Another thing which the dealers considered a sine qua non was that the (Concluded on page 890.);

Dealers Want * Radio Board

(Continued from page 6.)

corporation should be absolutely prevented from engaging in trade. The men selected for the board of control ghould be of the highest standing, and should be appointed for a fairly lengthy term to enable them to carry their plans through to fruition. Such a cor poration as was proposed would follow generally the lines of the British Broadeasting Corporation, which worked well in Great Britain. No financial difficulty need be anticipated, as an ample and increasing revenue was assured. As regards the representative of the tadio trade, he should attend meetings and keep in touch with the requirements of the trade generally. Opinion of Listeners. Minister: "Regarding the listen- ‘ ers: How do they feel? You gentlemen are in touch with them all the time." Mr. Nimmo said that perhaps he was in a better position to answer that than anyone in the room. He had seen correspondence received by the "B" station in Wellington, and he was prepared to assert that the listeners were overwhelmingly in favour of a change. The Minister: "You do not think publie opinion would be satisfied if we extended the license?’ Mr. Nimmo: "I am convinced that the public are most emphatically opposed to an extension, and I would not like to be a member of a Government which proposed to give it." Mr. McQuarrie: "As a retailer in ecoustant contact with the public I can say that they are most anxious for 2 change." [We are informed that other members of the deputation disclaimed any authority or capacity to speak on be-

half of listeners, but this was not embodied in the Press reports issued.] The Minister’s Reply. Ts Minister, in replying, said: "I am very pleased to meet you here, and to hear the views of a deputation which I am assured represents 95 per cent. of the capital invested in the trade. The question of future control SRRRRARRRRRRRRRARRRRARRRRRRRRRRAR

WN NN AN AANA RADAR Oo ooo D RAI IIIA is very important, and it has given Mr. McNamara and myself a great deal of thought. Certain proposals haye been formulated, and will be placed before Cabinet shortly. As it is a Cabinet matter, however, I would prefer not to discuss these proposals at present. The recommendations you have made will receive serious consideration, and I hope that when the new seheme is made public you will be satisfied with it. I will go so far as to say that the broadcasting service beJongs to the people, and they should have’ a voice in its control, but, of course, the issue is in the hands of Cabinet, and until they make a decision I can make no pronouncement. I am pleased that the opinions you have given ‘me have the backing of the whole trade in New Zealand, because this gives them weight and authority." Mr, A. R. Harris’s Comment. A. R. HARRIS, general manager of the Broadcasting Company, stated that he doubted very much if the deputation represented the executive of the Wellington radio section of the Employers’ Federation, and that it had the unanimous backing of the whole of the radio trade throughout New Zealand, as was claimed by the speakers. As a matter of fact, the resolution referred to was passed at a meeting of the Wellington radio section of the Employers’ Federation, and with eight present was carried by a majority of one, four voting in favour and three against it. The opinion expressed to the Minister by one of the delegates that listeners were unanimously in favour of the Government taking over the system and operating it under a board of control was also

/ Somewhat misleading. The value of this opinion could be tested by a plebiscite among listeners. Views of the Trade, have received from the Electric Lamp House Ltd. copy of a letter forwarded by it to the Hon, J. B. Donald upon the subject of the future of broadcasting :-- The Hon, J. B.. Donald, Postmaster-General, Wellington. Dear Sir,-We notice by Press reports that you have recently received & deputation from radio dealers affliated to the New Zealand Dlectrical Federation. While not wishing to either support or object to the opinions brought forward by this body, we certainly do not agree that the resolution has the "manimous backing of the radio trade in New Zealand," as stated by one speaker ,or that the deputation "represents 95 per cent. of the capital invested in the radio trade," which was reported as stated in your reply. — It would certainly be very interesting to know how many of the 900-odd (March figures) licensed radio dealers are connected with the federation, as it is beyond our imagination that there could be an unanimous or even a majority of 95 per cent, agreement on this eontentious subject. In conclusion we would state that we are in touch with dealers and the public throughout New Zealand, and we have no hesitation in stating that it would be very hard to find 10 per cent. of any one section who are in agreement as to how broadcasting should be controlled. Trusting that you will soon arrive at the impossible-a solution to please everybody.-We remain, your faithfully, Hlectric Lamp House Ltd. Dealers and Radio Control. "THE circumstances surrounding this week’s deputation of certain radio dealers to the Postmaster-General is not without its touch of unconscious humour. Mr. Harris, in casting doubts on the representative character of the deputation, tells us that eight members of the Wellington radio section of the Employers’ Federation met, and by four votes to three carried a resolution approving Government acquisition and control of a business successfully run by private enterprise. On the strength of the vote of these four men the rather extravagant claim was made that the whole of the radio trade was behind them, the resolution having been endorsed by the remainder of the radio traders throughout New Zealand. There will be many other members of the Employers’ Federation, in all sections, whose views on the subject of State ownership, control and monopoly would be worth hearing. The vast majority are flatly against any interference with legitimate private enterprise, and could present an overwhelming case against any such experiments, especially at the present critical economic juncture. When one of the deputation made the astounding assertion that the listeners were overwhelmingly in favour

of the change, it.was clearly a cas@ of the wish being father to the thought. . Nothing short of a ballot would reveal the exact wishes of the listeners. . { The fact that the deputation urged the Postmaster-General to nationalise the "A" stations and leave the "B" stations to private enterprise proves that while they, believe that Government control is all very well for the other fellow, their own business must not be interfered with.on any account.-I am, ete,,-‘Listener,." Chamber of Commerce Passes . Resolution. At a meeting of the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce, held on June 8, general disapproval of the Government’s intention to assume control of broadcasting was manifest, and the following resolution was carried :- "Tt having been reported that it is the intention of the Government to e over the control of the broadcastiniy organisation in New Zealand, is chamber begs to request that no firther Government departments be created for any extension of activities of Government departments in this or any field, which can be more suitably carried on by private enterprise."