BROADCASTING CHANGES HANDS.

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 26, 8 January 1932, Page 4

BROADCASTING CHANGES HANDS.

AT midnight on New Year’s Eve the control of broadcasting passed from the hands of the Radio Broadcasting Company of N.Z. to the newly-constituted Broadcasting Board. The changeover was marked only by a few brief announcements and a statement by the Broadcasting Company. In their farewell speech to listeners the company briefly traced the growth of broadcasting in the country from the. time when there were 3000 listeners till the present, when there are 70,000. Many difficulties have beset their path, and they were not able to please everyone, but it must be acknowledged that it was’ due only to their pioneering work that broadcasting in New Zealand has reached the high standard it now maintains. Misunderstandings there have been, and much criticism has been levelled against the company, but they nevertheless Jeave behind them a large number-by far the majority-who are satisfied with their efforts. The company faced many difficulties, financial and otherwise, but that is all by the way. The service is now the property of the people, and the Board are merely the trustees; the extent to which they can improve the service rests to a large extent upon every person who is in any way connected with radio. Tribute was paid the company by the Hon. A. Hamilton in a brief speech made prior to the taking over of the service. The Minister expressed his belief in broadcasting by saying that the possibilities, both from the educational and social point of view, are almost unlimited. It is with this realisation that the Board have taken control, and listeners can confidently look forward to a general broadening of the service in the future. Tribute was also paid the general manager of the Broadcasting Company, Mr. A. R. Harris, by the station director of 2YA. It is mainly his foresight and energy, combined with the enthusiasm and ability of his staff, that have been responsible for the present state of New Zealand broadcasting. It is gratifying in this respect to see that the Board have seen fit to take over with only a few minor exceptions the whole of the staff of the company. By doing this the continuity of the service is assured during the time the Board are engaged on the pressing matters concerning the actual changeover. QFFICIAL statements were broadcast immediately after the midnight chimes. The Board in a New Year message again paid tribute to the company, making mention of the fact that in a very few years broadcasting had been elevated to a comprehensive service run on very satisfactory lines, (They were trustees of the people, and as

such will carry on where the company left off, and will seek ways and means of exteriding and improving the service. t HE Board has no easy task, but it is characteristic of sound business methods that they do not attempt to make any changes until they have had time to investigate the service. It seems that to run such a service the first essential of the controlling body is to be able to place reliance in others-specialists in their special lines. The next essential is that the personnel be men with experience in finance and business methods-that is essential for any organisation. The next is to possess the elasticity to explore and learn the essentials of the new task they are faced with. It is men of this description who were appointed to the British Broadcasting Corporation and who made of it such a brilliant success. They were not experts in broadcasting matters, but they employed experts. These were sound methods, and in essaying to follow in the footsteps of Great Britain the Board should ’ be accorded every support. They have been chosen because of their ability as business men, and have shown it in assuming, office but a few days before the old regime came to a conclusion and carryingfon without disruption. Under the circumstances chaos could have reiffmed, but everything goes on smoothly. ONLY gradually will the policy points be settled and the changes made, and it is far too soon yet to look for other than a few minor alterations. Points which listeners will await with interest is the policy with regard to "B" stations, for it is likely that the service will unified, transmission hours and programme standards,. including a possible reshuffling of musical organisations. It must be borne in mind, however, that the Radio Board is not the B.B.C. and has only a very limited income, which it must make go a long way. The only way the service can succeed is by co-operation of all interested in broadcasting and an extension of the license numbers. .