Private Lives or Empire Service?

Radio Record, 5 June 1936, Page 9

Private Lives or Empire Service?

Parliament Fuss About B.B.C. Personnel to the Exclusion of Empire Issues-Socialisation of Relay Exchanges.

(By Air Mail from

our London

Correspondent

London, May 9.: [ SPENT five hours in the House of Commons the other day { listening to the views of M.P.’s on ‘broadcasting and more especially with reference to the Ullswater report making recommendations for the renewal of the B.B.C.’s charter for another ten years. Believe it or not, the Empire Was not mentioned once during the debate. But M.P.’s have not,said their last word on this report. There is to be another debate and, judging from the fact that at least a dozen members were on their feet every time one sat down, they will have plenty more to say, I noticed Mr. L. 8S. Amery popping up and down frequently, but not succeeding in catching the Speaker’s eye. I shall be surprised if he has not something to say about the Empire. The principal fuss is about private

lives at the B.B.C. Does the corporation or does it not interfere unduly with the private lives of its staff? Relay Exchanges. THE other point which ‘aroused M.P.’s concerned the proposal of the Ullswater:‘Committee to hand the operation of relay exchanges ‘over to the Post Office. Relay exchanges pick up programmes at a central point and distribute them by wires to subscribers. All the subscriber has is a loudspeaker and the exchange supplies him continuously with two alternative programmes, generally one B.B.C. programme and one from Luxembourg or some _ other foreign advertising _station. Newspapers regard the exchange system as inimical to their interests; the Socialists, of course, are always in favour of State enterprise. Curiously enough it is the Conservative Party which is split over this question. An Ether Hog. BY T the exchange group would "be in a stronger position were — it not for the practice of relaying

advertising programmes of 'rubbishy quality from foreign stations in English, chiefly from Luxembourg. Luxembourg is a pirate; it has no right, moral or legal, to the wave length it has appropriated. The station is an ether hog running for the profit of a small group of financiers. Rushing It. DESPERATE efforts are being made by the B.B.C. to have the Alexandra Palace station ready by July I, but it seems to me_at’ ‘the moment as if they are losing the race against time. At the time of writing’ ‘the station has not ‘started. testing, and is, indeed. a. long way off. testing. Highty. feet . of the mast, which .is.to be 210 feet high, has been erected on the summit of one of the towers. A great, ‘deal of Baird equipment and a certain amount of H.M.I.

apparatus has actually. been installed. But there is no E.M.I, transmitter. at the Palace yet. The film projector room, where films will be viewed for cutting purposes before being, televised, is complete. The .offices ure complete, but when I last visited. rhe Palace the only pieces. of apparatus actually .working were the radiators! Bright Television? . STRAWS will show which. way the wind.blows atid new. appointments to the -B.B.C.. Telev’sion: Department "show: what ‘a’ determined bid is being made to make the new programmes -popular. The. ‘highbrows will -certainly have. their moses put out of joint. Mr Hyam Grtenubaum,’ who has just been appotntec Television Music’ Director,, is , well, known as an exponent of light. and bright music, ~ . .