Legislation Ties Hands of Broadcasting Board

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 8, 1 September 1933, Page 15

Legislation Ties Hands of Broadcasting Board

To the Editor. Sir-Your correspondent Mr, George Millson stated an axiom apparent to

everybody, with the possible exception of the broadcasting authorities in New Zealand, but I disagree with his contention that to suggest one man can do justice to 865 programmes in a year is a sign of decadent mentality in the people Surely the people are innocent and Mr. Millson’s shaft should have been directeil at the broadcasting oligarchy. Broadcasters in Australia have realised the impossibility of one man, or organisation even, satisfactorily producing 365 programmes ina year, and we therefore see many of their entertainments handed over to detached professional producers, musical bodies and organisations expert in entertainment, cultural and otherwise, it would seem that broadcasting in New Zealand is yet in the experimental stage, but it must be remembered that legislative exigences allowed little opportunity for discussion of ways and means when enactment gave us the Broadcasting Board; and it should be remembered, too. that some degree of permanence was essential when the company’s interesis were acqured. But would anyone expect the board to be so constituted if it were

brought into being to-day? Broadcasting is a job for experts, and to their credit I understand some of the members of the board were reluctant to accept the duties. That the board may have failed dismally to interpret listeners’ wishes does not altogether discredit them, and approbation should always be accorded to amateurs who do their best. A healthy broadcasting system thrives on criticism from the daily Press, and the absence of this since the board took control is a sign that the public have succumbed to another supine department. Progressive recourse to recordings lends colour to a belief that inspiration has succumbed to departmental self-sufficiency.-1 am, ete.,

S.O.

S.

Wellington.

"THERE WAS AN OLD LADY OF..."

Limerick Competition at Community Singing eed Tune in to the 2YA community singing session each Wednesdayand then write a limerick about your impressions! That's the. latest stunt for helping to swell the Relief of Distress coffers in Wellington, the idea being that you send along a shilling (or more, of course, if you can) with your effort. The limericks are tried out on the following Wednesday to the tune of "Fol-the-Rol-Lol" and the best is decided by the audience. At the end of the season the winning limericks will be tried over and the final voting will take place. A prize of half a guinea and a book of community songs is being offered.