"Christchurch Times"

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 7, 28 August 1931, Page 10

"Christchurch Times"

HE Radio Broadcasting Company, which has been subjected to a good deal of criticism, public and private, has taken the very wise course of laying its position frankly and fully before the public. At the same tine it has published details of a scheme that it has drawn up at the request of the Government for the future control of broadcasting in the Dominion. The position, of course, is that the

company’s license will expire at the end of this year and the Postmaster. General has stated that it will not be renewed. Mr. Donald, however, has never been explicit as to the future policy of the Government, and we may take it that, before arriving at a decision, Cabinet, in fairness to the existing company, has given it the opportunity of submitting a proposal. It does not follow that this scheme will be adopted, of course, but it will serve as a very useful basis for the publie discussion of the subject. There are various alternatives, but we may rule out at once the idea that the Government might undertake the ownership and management of breedcasting, since that course would assuredly be repugnant to a large section of the pubue. The Post and Telegraph’ Department could not be saddled with the burden and the public would not.tolerate’ the creation of another State department in its present temper. A possible alternative would he the formation of a company in which radio dealers, owuers of receiving sets and the Government would be represented, somewhat on the lines of the British Broadecasting Company. This system, which has obvious. merits,. has. also obvious disadvantages. . The creation of a company having a financial interest in the success of the operations and amenable both to public criticism and Government supervision and regulation would, however, possess the merits Ww ithout the disadvantages, and. the scheme prepared by the present conpany.is broadly on those lines.