The Board Takes Over

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 27, 15 January 1932, Page 5

The Board Takes Over

Head Office Now in Wellington

HE head office staff of the Broadcasting Company was transferred from Christchurch last week, and has now taken up its new quarters in the 2YA Building, Featherston Street, Wellington. The necessary structural alterations have been made, and excellent accommodation has been provided. The staff of the Board appears to be settling ‘down steadily to its work under the direction of the acting-general manager, Mr. HE. ©. Hands. There is no indication yet of any great "kicking up of dust,’ and listeners need not expect any manifestations of that nature nor any clamour as to what the Board proposes to do. No more can be expected of it than that for a time it should "feel its way," and listeners will be well satisfied in their expectation of slow but steady development. At the same time, despite what has been said about the time it would take for the influence of the new Board te be felt, listeners will already have noticed a "something different" about the YA programmes, The Board took up the running on January 1, from which date it is responsible for the service and the nature of the entertainment provided. The Board proposes to continue the system of committees already in existence, while it will also have the assistance of the Advisory Council which is shortly to be appointed from nominations received from all parts of New | Zealand. Though the three members of the Board bring to New Zealand broadcast- |

ing a new angle of outlook, it is essentially a business combination-similar to the directors of a company-which will decide questions of policy and act as trustees for listeners who, like shareholders in a company, have invested in the broadcasting service. The Board, however, differs from the directorate of a company in that it is essentially a non-profit-making concern, though, in the interests of licensed listeners, the service will be run on sound commercial lines. The Board, it cannot be too clearly stated, is not in any respect under Government control. although the Postmaster-General is and always will be the licensing authority. Apart from this, however, the Board will have a free hand-this is clearly the intention of the Act-and will be untrammelled politically or otherwise.