Whatever criticisms are brought against the B.B.C., it is rarely
charged with lack of generosity in its pay- ments to broadcasters. So far as I know anything about its fees, they are quite reasonable. But apparently with one strange exception. I am told that no payment is made for religious talks at all. In regard to this a distinc- tion, of course, must be drawn. When an evening service in the preacher's own church is broadcast there is obviously no reason why he should be paid for his sermon. It is a compliment to him to be selected. But when a man (or woman) is brought to the studio to give an address- there can be no reason on earth—except bad reasons—why he should not get a fee like any other broadcaster. The theory, I suppose, is that a Minister of the Gospel should grasp eagerly any such opportunity for evangelization. But the actual fact is that a man may be paid for a talk on things material of every kind but nothing for a talk on things spiritual, with the almost inevitable implication that the former is worth paying for and the latter not. I hope the B.B.C. will reflect on its practice in this par- ticular, and revise it.
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