THE POLITICAL SITUATION AND BROADCASTING.

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 11, 25 September 1931, Page 4

THE POLITICAL SITUATION AND BROADCASTING.

QNCE more the future of broadcasting becomes involved in political developments. In the reorganisation of Cabinet, necessitated by the Coalition, changes of personnel will have a direct bearing upon the attitude of Cabinet to the Broadcasting Bill brought down by thc late Government. The prime factor in influencing the Coalition was the financial condition of the country, this having become definitely worse than had so far been revealed. Under those circumstances it cat. be taken as certain that economy will be the first consideration, and that no action is likely to be taken which, directly or indirectly, wil! tend to increase the liability or responsibility of the State. It seems to us, therefore, at least likely that the proposal for the organisation of a new company, in which listeners will have the opportunity of securing share-holding and a direct voice in the election of foui directors on a geographical! basis, will come to the fore. That proposal, as we remarked on its presentation, embodics some very attractive features. It limits the dividend-earning power, while retaining the incentive to good management and economical administration. It gives the listeners a direct voice in management, and an opportunity for the expression of their views. It relieves the State of any responsibility or commitment, while laying down a definite series of contractua! obligations involving steady performance by the company. from the listeners’ point of view, the whole necessity of the moment is the development of the service itself, and the necessary extension of stations and programmes. These objectives can be attained most satis: factorily, and without any confusion of change-over, by a process of evolution from the present company’s organisation. Listeners will have a greater say if representation than under the Board scheme, where ‘he fundamental weakness of political appointment and influence jeopardises what should be merely a business organisation. In the political change that has developed, listeners are therefore closely concerned. AN item of cabled news which appeared last week will also appea! to radio listeners. In the House of Commons the Chancellor. Mr. Philip Snowden, announced that the position of the British Broad-

casting Corporation had been reviewed in the light of the financial emergency, and the Corporation had agreed to an arrangement by which, out of the total revenue from wireless licenses next year of £2,250,000, the public funds would receive £1,000,000. In discussing the Broadcasting Bill recently submitted to Parliament we stressed the possibility that under one of its clauses it would be open for the State at any time to raid the listeners’ funds to an extent greater than is now the case. This is what is now to be done in Britain under pressure of political necessity. Their license fee is 10/- per annum. Under the sliding scale that hitherto has obtained, the British Broadcasting Corporation has actually received of that sum in recent years only from 64 per cent. to 67 per cent. Under the rearrangement outlined by Mr. Snowden, the percentage is to be reduced apparently to well helow that figure-to something about 55 per cent. This makes the license fee another means of taxation. While the B.B.C., by virtue of its tremendous revenue secured from a large population, may be able to afford this payment to the State, New Zealand is in a very different position. The interests of the services require the concentration of the fullest possible amount of money into the service, rather than allowing the State in any shape or form to make any raids dpon the money available. With a definite contract in force between? the State and any company, listeners would be safeguarded from any Government yielding to the temptation of appropriating radio moneys. The British incident, too, shows that the claim that the B.B.C. is not a State department is extremely thin. In emergency. the Government acts as if it were one to all intents and purposes and in New Zealand the same experience would doubtless follow. | Forewarned is forearmed. ITTTTILGTTTL@TITITTATTTIEP@TTTT TTT STITT TITTTT@ITT TT TTTTTi@TTTTiii@liiiiiiiieiiiitiitiile sree)