The Radio as Education

"Good evening, everybody! This is Station 2V.C. Wellington, broadcasting to all Victoria College students to-day's lecture on English Literature, by Professor I. A. Gordon, whom you see before you. As usual, all other subjects are being simultaneously broadcast by our subsidiary stations on their respective wave-lengths . . ."

Ridiculous, you say? Not altogether. Looking ahead a little, that's all. But while we're on the subject—do you know there's a minor war on—"Radio Record" v. Radio Powers-that-Be? It seems that the "Record" has enjoyed for 13 years the right of publishing detailed station programmes, well in advance. The Government's new paper "The Listener" has bagged this monopoly for itself, "in the hope, no doubt, of forcing the old-timer out of business.

Does it affect us? Yes! Radio is becoming increasingly the handmaiden of education (despite 2ZB and F. Martyn Renner, at opposite extremes). When "Salient" sought to print news of forthcoming radio fare likely to be worth the student's closing his books, the veto was likewise applied. Strictly speaking, we are not allowed to tell you, a week ahead, that (for example) Kate Ross and Marie Fletcher will debate from 2YA, at a certain time, the subject "Kindness Versus Cruelty in Managing Men."

However, we're not growling. The broadcasting of Parliament has taken the gilt (though not the guilt) off radio for a while. At the same time it would seem equitable to allow each paper programme rights and to let them meet in open competition on equal terms.—M.