lh ows Letters manifesto with the performance of the Postmaster - General
in dealing with radio problems at the moment.
The Home Secretary, on behalf of the British Government, undertook that the Isle of Man could have its own commercial medium-wave radio service to cover the Isle of Man. Instead of supporting this promise the Postmaster-General so far has only licensed powers and frequencies of transmission in the Isle of Man that would ensure that the service does not reach more than 10 per cent of the Island's receivers. The laws of nature ensure that a properly powered adequate medium-wave service would be received inevitably in certain coastal fringe areas around the Irish Sea. Presumably this is the reason why the British Government's promise is being sabotaged. One might excuse some hesitancy on the part of the Government in adopting commercial radio in haste for the whole country. However, it is odd not to make use of this ideal opportunity to evaluate local commercial broadcasting without set- ting a precedent for the rest of the British Isles.
One wonders what possible chances the Conser- vatives have of being elected when the public, the party and the Cabinet march in one direction and the Minister in charge apparently is acting in a com- pletely contrary manner.
Mary Somerville E. Rowan Davies
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