"Constant Criticism of The Broadcasting Board"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 20, 30 November 1934, Page 12

"Constant Criticism of The Broadcasting Board"

Mr. L. R. C. Mactarlane Discusses Attitude o Press in New Zealand. "Does the Press appreciate broadcasting problems and policies?" was the title of an address given at a Christchurch Businessmen’s Club last week by Mr. L. R. C. Macfarlane, of Culverden, the South Island member of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board. Mr. Macfarlane defended the policy and . actions of the Broadcasting Board, and briefly criticised the attitude of the newspapers. He concluded by saying he had. been very kind to the Press. The New Zealand Press, he added, called for a lot of criticism, and he had said very little.

"It ig quite certain," said Mr. Macfarlane, "that the Press does appreciate broadcasting problems, but it (loes not always say so. It is rather dangerous to tackle the Press, because, like a woman, it always has the last word, but the Press is obviously up against difficulties in the shape of new inventions. In the dull old days we felt it necessary to buy tyjvo newspapers a day, but that is not so to-day. I do not say that the controllers of broadcasting feel themselves opposed to the Press. There is definitely a place for the written and a place for the spoken . word, but the Broadcasting Board can look after the latter, and I am sure the newspapers will look after their own business with the written word.’ Mr. Macfarlane added that the two services could work in harmony. Healthy criticism was necessary and desirable, but critics should be certain of their facts. Mr. Macfarlane said that members of the Broadcasting Board were trustees for the tisteners. They had to tun a service which must first of all be financially sound. The board could haye been extravagant and could have tried to give the people everything they wanted in the first few years, but the guiding policy had been based on sound finance. At the same time, however, the board had been progressive and had grappled with the problem of diversified interests in a determined manner, This policy had been carried out scientifically, and wide use had been made of the advice of experts who had travelled throughout the Dominion and examined tocal problems from the North Cape to Bluff, It should be remembered that broadcasting was only in its infancy and that New Zealand, as far as possible, had moved parallel with developments overseas. The Dominion’s own difficulties, however, couid be solved only by. special study. The real test of the success of the board’s work, said Mr. Macfarlane, lay in the "gate’-the cash returns. There could not be much wrong when licenses were increasing as they had done in the last two years, and when the board expected an increase of atleast 20 per cent. during the present year. Nearly every second house in New Zealand possessed some sort of set. The board had been doing all. it could to cope with the problem of -. radio interference. The Government had set up a radio interference com-

mittee, which it was hoped would be able to effect necessary adjustments, but the difficulty could not be solyed without legislation giving the right of entry to private houses. The country did not. want anything so drastic, but the board was confident that the prob- \

lem would dissolve as people realised that radio was essential and that certain regulations were desirable. The encouragement of local talent, educative talks and general culture, humour, the arrangement of programmes and controversy over the air were all touched upon during the talk, and it was emphasised time and again that it was the intention of the board to give the best possible service while

keeping its finances sound. As _ the people became more educated to broadcasting the service would improve, and when they demanded some innovation they would find the board ready to give it. Mr. Macfarlane thought the quoting of facts the best reply to the constant criticism. which had been levelled against the board.