RIGHT TO THE AIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 265, 8 November 1935, Page 16

RIGHT TO THE AIR.

CHURCH'S POSITION.

QUESTION OF BROADCASTING. SPECIAL BOARD FAVOURED. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. Matters relating to the broadcasting of church services were dealt with by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to-day. It was decided, inter alia, to take steps to form an inter-churcli broadcasting board with church representation on the board according to strength in population. The Rev. W. Allan Stovely, convenor of the committee on broadcasting, said that three big matters emerged from the deliberations of the committee. One was that the present allocation of broadcasting services was quite anomalous. The second point was that the committee came increasingly to realise the desirability of being granted time on the national stations. The Broadcasting Board had replied that if the request were granted similar requests would come from other denominations, and the ultimate result would be an overloaded and unbalanced programme.

In view of the situation with regard to the B class stations, the committee was strongly of the opinion that the Church must have time on the national stations for its educational, inspirational and evangelical work. It was felt that the Church, having the biggest message of all, had the right to the use of "this great modern means of propaganda for its work." The third point, closely associated with the first, was the desirability of creating an inter-church broadcasting board. Change of Speaker Preferred. The Rev. G. Budd (Auckland) seconded the motion that the committee's report be received. He said he believed far more people listened in to church services than was realised. He did not agree with the finding of the committee that only by a limited number of radio pastors could an effective continuity of messages and contact be maintained with radio congregations. He thought there was room for diversity in regard to men who were given the privilege of speaking over the air. He believed that the radio congregation liked a change of speaker as much as the average congregation.

The Assembly passed on to deal with another recommendation dealing with the desirability of there being a reasonable measure of freedom for the purposes of religious publicity by responsible organisations. It was agreed (o authorise the broadcasting committee to take steps in conjunction with representatives of other churches to obtain time from the national stations. It was decided to thank the Broadcasting Board for the facilities already in existence.

The Rev. C. S. Falconcr said he thought the question in regard to the broadcasting of services from Presbyterian churches in different centres should also be settled; the privilege should go round. He moved as "a recommendation that Presbyterian city churches be wired and a rota arranged for each year by the local Presbyterian broadcasting committee. Mr. Stevely drew attention to the finding of the Assembly committee that it was not desirable that more than three Presbyterian churches be wired in each chief centre.

Mr. Falconer contended that a red herring was being drawn across the scent. He said that what he contended was that it was wrong that certain churches should be selected and that the selection should be of a permanent nature, to the exclusion of other churches.

The motion was carried bv S7 votes to 56.