Advisory Council Appointed

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 34, 4 March 1932, Page 5

Advisory Council Appointed

Personnel Well Scattered |

NDR the Broadcasting Act passed last year the appointment of an advisory council to.the New Zealand Broadcasting Board is provided for. This is to consist of eight members, five from the ‘North Island and three from the South Island. The PostmasterGeneral, the Hon. A. Hamilton, announced on Thursday last that the following appointments have been made for a period of one year :- Rey. A. B. Chappell, Auckland. Mr. J. S. Anchor, Hamilton. Mr. F, T. Davis, New Plymouth. Mr. W. A. Waters, Palmerston North. Mr. J. H.'Owen, Wellington. Mr. ©. R. Russell, Christchurch. Mr. Harold Booth, Dunedin. Mr. A. W. Jones, Invercargill. Personalia, The Rev. A. B. Chappell, who was a former registrar of Auckland University College, is on the editorial staff of VE MAE EAE OE A a OE tS BL SI Be te i th tant

the "New Zealand Herald." He has been closely associated with broadcasting for many years, and was a member and chairman of the 1YA Musical and Dramatic Committee. . Mr. W. A. Waters (Palmerston North) is engineer to the ManawatuOroua Power Board and president of Manawatu Radio Society (2ZF). He has been an enthusiastic radio amateur from the early days of radio in New Zealand. Mr. F. T. Davis is president of the Taranaki Radio Society, 'and has been closely associated with 2YB. Mr. J. S. Anchor owns and operates a radio business and the local 'B station in Hamilton, and has been an enthusiast in radio for many years. Mr. J. H. Owen, Wellington, was formerly president of the Wellington Radio Society, and is now president of the Wellington Listeners’ League. He has devoted much time to the cause of radio, and on a trip abroad some years pF LE A A A OE EAE A HB Hl I DE Dl De Be

ago investigated radio systems in the United States, Canada, 'and Britain, Mr. C. R. Russell, the Christchurch representative on the council, is a consulting radio engineer. He wag the nominee of the Radio Society of Christchurch, and is particularly well qualified on the technical side. Mr. Harold Booth, Dunedin, achieved prominence as organiser of "The Tuisteners’ League of New Zealand." No Musicians, HEIR surprise that no representatives of the musical interests of the Dominion were included in the Board's Advisory Council was stated by ‘Ohristchurch musicians, to whom the constitution of the council was explained last: week, "I consider it very desirable and necessary that the council should include representative musicians," said Dr. J. C. ‘Bradshaw, "In fact, I should say that the council could not possibly be a success without their expert assistance. Music represents far the largest part of a radio programme, and it Should be considered first of all." Dr. Bradshaw pointed out that the British Broadcasting Corporation was advised by the leading musicians of the United Kingdom, and had the services of Dr. Adrian Boult as its musical director. Since its earliest beginnings, this corporation had‘: always sought expert advice in music, Mr. Arthur Lilly regarded as disquieting the news that there were no musicians on the Advisory Council, and he hoped that the Society of Professional Musicians would watch for further developments, He thought that there should be recognition of New Zealand musical taste, and that it would be found advisable, if not necessary, to have a musical director. Such a director should be a New Zealander, who knew the New Zealand mind, and would be able to work for the advancement of the country musically. Radio offered the greatest opportunity yet known for musical development. The Dominion had been kept in the musical infant class because there had been no opportunity for self-expression, but an able and broad-minded director could please listeners by giving them what was liked, and from that point could start to develop the musical mind. And he could lead New Zealand musical performers to further recognition. There were very good musicians in New Zea~ land, and wireless should be made the cause of an important national ade vancement. The Position Misunderstood. ° ‘HE comments of musical interests shows that the. position of the A4visory Council is not fully understood. The council is not likely to be required to give detailed consideration to programme matters requiring musical knowledge. The local committee system inaugurated by the Radio Broadcasting Company is being continued by the board, and under that System 3 committee on which are musical representatives is associated with each station in an advisory capacity. The absence of musical talent from the Advisory Council does not mean that musica} interests will be neglected in programme matters.