House Discusses The Broadcasting Bill

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 35, 8 March 1935, Page 19

House Discusses The Broadcasting Bill

JPIVERGENT views were expressed by Members of. Parliament last week when the Broadcasting Ameniment Bill, was placed before them for the first reading. Although there was no difficulty about the passing of the first stage, members spoke freely on the administration of*the Act at present jin force. Many of them. had words of praise for the Broadcasting Board’s work during its current terin. and some had little to say in favour of the programmes offered to the listening public. It was recognised that the proposed abolition of the Advisory Conneil was an obvious step in view of the enlargement of the board from three members to seven. Severe eriticism was levelled at the boare for Us "strangling" attitude towards the B stations. It remiins to be seen whether the powers to be vested in the new board for complete control of all programmes in New Zealand will improve relations between the B stations and fhe Government. One member considered that if it were not for rhe service provided by the B_ stations there svould be a considerable reduction in the number of listeners. The following portion of the Rill explains the powers to be allowed the new board in the control of all broadcast programmes in New Zealand: The board will have all such powers as may be reasunably necessary for the effective control of such programmes, and in particniar may :- (1) Require fhe licensee of auy broadeasting station to aubmit to ans authorised officer ot the board sne¢ particulars as may be required ing to programmes intenfied — fo he transmitted from the station. (2) Prohibit either absolutely or

subject to such conditions as the board thinks fit to impose the trarsmissiou from any broadcasting station of any programme or any part of Q programme. (3) Require the licensee of any broadeasting station to include in or exclude from any programme to he transmitted from the station any matter specified by the board, (4) Give to the licensee of any broadcasting station such directions as the board thinks fit in relation to the contents, arrangement, and presentation of programmes to. be transmitted from the station. (5) Report to the Minister any failure of the licensee of a broadecasting station to comply with any direction or requirements of the board given or made pursuant to this section. Upon receiving a report by the board "that any licensee has failed to comp!y with any direction or requirement of the board the Minister may in his (discretion eancel the license. Nothing in this section is deemed to constitute the owner or licensee of any station the agent of the board, or to impose any liability on the board in respect of any expense incurred by such owner or licensee, No advertisement intended for the pecuniary benefit of any person shall be transmitted from any broadcasting station whether operated by the board ov any other person. No licenses for broadcasting stations not operated by the board shal] be issued if the effect of such issue would be to increase the number of licenses in force at any one time berond the number in force when the Bill becomes iaw on April. 1. The chairman’s salary is to be = retnined at £650 n year. . The other six members will be paid £250 a year, confpared with £850 now paid board memhers other than the chairman. = A consequentia! amendment inereases the quorum from two to four,