RACE RESULTS ON RADIO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 304, 5 October 1946, Page 5

RACE RESULTS ON RADIO

ALLEGATIONS DISCUSSED IN HOUSE OPPOSITION MEMBERS ASK FOR INQUIRY . ~ (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 4. A. F. O’Donoghue’s book, “The Rise and Fail of Broadcasting in New Zealand,’ was one of the principal subjects discussed by the House of Representatives on the broadcasting vote to-day. The Minister of Broadcasting (the Hon. F. Jones) alleged that the book was writen with a political motive.

Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga), opening the discussion on the vote for the Broadcasting Department, said there' was a feeling in New Zealand that we were not keeping up-to-date in broadcasting. There was an accumulation of funds amounting to about £2,000,000, and the question Avas, what did Ave get for our money? Broadcasting Avas a State monopoly, and if any private concern made such huge profits without'reducing costs to consumers there Avould he a hOAVi from the Government. Government speakers Avere heard over the air ad nauseum, but no criticism of the Government was ever broadcast. “Playing of Politicians” Mr Doidge asked the Minister if his attention had been drawn to the book Avritten by A. F.-G’Donoghue. Among other allegations it claimed administrative Aveaknesses in the broadcasting service and that it was entirely controlled by the Government. The system had become the plaything of politicians, and freedom of the air in" New Zealand was a mockery. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) said the charges by O’Donoghue were too serious to he disregarded. Mr A. G. Osborne (Government, Onehunga): A public inquiry? (Laughter from the Government benches.) Mr Bodkin: Yes, a public inquiry, and not Avithout cause. Mr Bodkin asked what the Minister had to say to the claim that there was a tie-up between jbroadcasting and the bookmakers. (Government laughter.) Mr J. Thorn (Government, Thames) Don’t be childish, Mr Bodkin: Can Ave take it that the honour of the Government is not worth, defending? He said that history had taught us that' Avherever there Avas corruption - in government it appeared first - in the administrative side. He considered a full inquiry should be made into the charge concerning’ bookmakers. He kneAv the Government to he nervous about public inquiries, but if-the Government Avas not prepared to meet those charges it should not cavil at the construction the public Avould put on the matter.

The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said he did not know O’Donoghue, nor had he read his book, but knowing the Director of Broadcasting as he did he Avould say that any charges of the nature mentioned Aver© * deliberate falsehoods and lies.

Mr Broadfoot: What about the director bringing a charge of libel?

Director Defended

Mr Fraser said that if the director were libelled the Crown Law Oflice could take action accordingly: He said he had full faith in the Director of Broadcasting, and to suggest he would be capable of anything dishonest or corrupt was all nonsense. So. far as a public inquiry into broadcasting was concerned his answer was definitely “No.” Mr M. H. Oram (Opposition, Manawatu) said that it was a libel on the director and the department to state that there was any tie-up between broadcasting and the bookmakers. To assert that the agitation to have racing commentaries broadcast from all parts of New Zealand was made at the instigation of bookmakers was unwarranted. ’ Those broadcasts were started because the great majority of people were interested in race , meetings and wanted races broadcast. Service Appreciated The Hon. F. Jones, replying, said the New Zealand broadcasting service ranked high in the world. A large sum had been built up because of the inability to continue the building programme and obtain new equipment during the war, but the time had now arrived when new studios and stations and equipment were necessary. He considered that the great bulk of the people appreciated -the broadcasting service and last year 2651 local artists were broadcast. Arrangements were being made with the Australian Broadcasting Commission for world artists who appeared in that country to appear in New Zealand also. He thought O’Donoghue’s book was designed to fit in with the General Election. Mr Jones said many people enjoyed racing broadcasts. Some spent their Saturday afternoons that way; perhaps even some members of Parliament. Mr Jones said he had not read the book, but if it was all on a par with some of the statements quoted, then its worthlessness was indicated. He was satisfied O’Donoghue’s book had been written in an attempt to damage the Government. Mr E. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera) criticised the attitude of Government members to O’Donoghue’s book. It should be possible, he said, for a person to write a book without being subjected to the type of inferential abuse uttered by the Prime Minister, who had declared that “the Government could not listen to the barking of every cur who barks against the Government.” Nor was it fair that when Mr Morton had referred to the book a Minister of the Crown had rejoined : “Are you getting a royalty from it?” ’ Mr Broad foot: That was Hitting below the belt! Mr Algie said lie himself used to do a considerable amount of broadcasting, but when he developed political opinions he disappeared from the programmes. Later Mr Jones said lie understood that the system whereby broadcasting services, obtained their race results was the same system that operated 18 years ago, long loefore the Government took the services over. He would look into the allegations made by O’Donoghue, but they would probably prove a mare’s nest.