MORE ENTHUSIASM WANTED

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 18, 9 November 1934, Page 5

MORE ENTHUSIASM WANTED

JIS recent visit to England seems to, have opened the’ eyes of Mr. L. R. C. Macfarlane, the South Island member of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, to the difrerence in the attitudes of the Press and’ public in ‘England and New Zealand toward their: respective broadcasting institutions. ‘In England they are proud of their institutions, but the attitude here is quite different," said Mr. Macfarlane in an interview. ‘There should be a little more enthusiasm: ain. ‘Pride. in the -country for. what it has done.’ > . : In commenting editorially on- this " statement, a southern newspaper says:- tte Mr. Macfarlane must surely ‘vealisé> that the. vrganisation of talks is’ still elementary, «that little. attempi has*been made to exploit broadeast plays, and that there has been no systematic attempt to foster and organise. local talent. The weakness of programmes. on the political and sociologic#! side is not cntirely the board’s fault, since the absurd restrictions om controversy have left it very little’ freedom. . ot In other words, the writer would infer. that a spirit’ of ‘complacency is abroad among thé people concerned with the country’s broadcasting service. Actually no such spirit exists. The programme ~ organisers and the people associated with them are eager scholars, learning their trade in a school made ‘hard. by the impositions of a limited income aiid a scattered and diverse public. Some sections of the . programmes may be elementary, but it is right to remember that New Zealand, in broadcasting as in many other branches of public service, must learn from experience alone. the Dominion has. never been a copyist, and it has built many sound institutions on the foundations of. hard-earned experience. So must it be with our broadcasting service. It would seem fair.to point ‘out, , however, that’ the. writer of the editorial of which a portion is\ quoted above, did give some credit to the New Zealand Broadcasting Board for having produced "‘in a very) short space of time, a remarkable improvement in the coverage and technical quality of New Zealand broadcasting." Here is another aspect of the- ‘board’s activities that has been given scant attention by the Press.and the public. Since it took over the. service less than three years ago, the Broadcasting Board has so improved and increased the coverage of the national stations that there is not a hamlet in New Zealand that is not adequately served by at least one wireless programme. And when the present scheme is complete these same hamlets will. have a. wider choice of programmes than some cities in other parts ‘of the world.