Changed Control of B Stations

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 10, 15 September 1933, Page 3

Changed Control of B Stations

Government had Good Reason for Purchase : Public Opinion Divided

Auckland and Wellington wireless fans have spent the last week in endeavouring to discover the whys and wherefores of the Government’s action in taking over the B stations, 1ZR and 2ZW, but, as the Postmaster-General (the Hon. Adam Hamilton) has been in Invercargill for some days, the Government’s intentions will probably be kept from the general public for a day or two yei. Christchurch has shown its apprehension of Government control of the B stations in the south, but the manager of 3ZM said that no move had yet been made for the transfer of his station from private ownership to State control. However, from information gathered by the "Radio Record" in both Auckland and Wellington it would appear that the Department’s intentions are of the best and that listeners throughout New Zealand will not regret the change-over in policy. The Government obviously had very good reasons for stepping in when it did, and too much reliance must not be placed on the statements that have appeared in one or two papers in the past week.

[T has been definitely stated, however, that no changes in broadcasting procedure will be made in the meantime at either station, although the question of future policy will probably be fully discussed when the New Zealand Broadcasting Board meets in Wellington on Thursday of this week. Under the present regula: tions relating to B stations, and the ban placed on the broadcast by B stations of the more important makes of gramophone records, it is well known in Auckland that the owners of 1ZR were unable to make a financia! success of the station. A northern paper suggests that

when the Gov: ernment was afproached to relax the regulations it offered to take over the station. At a meeting of the 1ZR Listeners’ Club last week the president, the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, and a member of the executive, Mr. W. J. Hindman, were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Postmaster General early this week, to ascertain the policy of the Government regarding 1ZR. It was hoped the new’ control of the station would preserve the popular programmes already existing. | Mr. Scrimgeour, who as "Uncle Scrim" conducts

regular "friendly road" services, said that as far as he was aware these services would not be interfered with in any way. The Wellington station, 2ZW, is also popular with listeners in the capital, although it, too, has been handicapped lately because of the ban on the use of certain eramophone records. This station was opened in 1931, and was then the second most powerful radio station in New Zealand. It pioneered many features which are to-day an accepted part of the Dominion’s radio services. It introduced the first Sunday morning news

session, tne Nhrst short-wave news service and the first daily women’s session. Recently the ‘station fan another aerial from its building in Willis Street to "The Dominion" newspaper building in Mercer Street, and thus extended the range. It has put over many novel and interesting broadcasts, and has taken the micro_phone along to many of Wellington’s big social functions. Radio fans in the Dominion have particularly appreciated the little intimate touches that the B stations have brought .into their programmes — and (Cont. on p. 42.)

HOT JAZZ!

LATEST RECORDINGS BY AMERICA’S BIGGEST DANCE BANDS. From Leading New Zealand Stations Shortly.

Changed Control of B Stations (Continued from Page 3.) they are reluctant to lose them. "There will, of course, be the advantage that the records banned to the B stations will now be broadcast from 1ZR and 2ZW under the new direction," said one Auckland listener, "but a lot of people will prefer the ‘programme’ touch from these stations, to the more elaborate, but less appealing, programmes from the major stations." In a statement the president of the New Zealand Listeners’ Federation, Mr. H, D. Bennett, said that the purchase by the Post and Telegraph Department of the Auckland and Wellington B class stations, came as a sure prise to rddio listeners. Although the new policy had not been fully outlined, it seemed that, with the necessary legislation supporting the department and the Broadcasting Board, the intention was to bring the whole of the radio service under one control. An alternative service was most certainly required, but the value of such service would be very largely discounted if it were merely a second channel for the supply of the service from same stocks and given under the direction. of the same control as the main New Zealand stations. No matter how good the YA. stations might be, listeners wanted the right to be able to switch over to something else. Mr. Bennett said that if it is to be assumed that the ultimate aim of the department is to do away altogether with private enterprise, and it certainly looked as if that was intended, then the closing down of our present B class stations would not be welcomed,