USE OF RADIO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 191, 13 August 1940, Page 9

USE OF RADIO.

FOR PARTY ENDS. FREEDOM LEAGUE OBJECTS. Strong criticism of what lie described as "the unfair and undemocratic use of the radio by the Labour party" was expressed by Mr. R. M. Algie, organiser of the New Zealand Freedom Association, in an address delivered at a public meeting at the Auckland- Chamber of Commerce this afternoon. "All loyal citizens would agree that, at the present time, criticism of the Government should be avoided so far as that is at all possible," said Mr. Algie.. "The war must and should come first. The task of winning it is so completely all-embracing that very few people have either the will or the power to give much attention to anything else. ° It, therefore, one could honourably escape from the task of criticising the broadcasting policy of the Government, one would be more than glad to do so. "Unfortunately, however, the unfair and undemocratic use of radio by the Labour party has not been solely a wartime activity, nor is it even a wartime necessity. The Government has itself insisted that during the war the party system shall be maintained with little.. if any, real modification. One of its leading Ministers has said that he could see 'no earthly reason for a coalition' of political parties during the war. If that is the attitude of the Government, how can it reasonably ask everyone else to sink all their differences * and to coCjierate to the full, when it is unable to give a lead for unification in its own special field of politics." "One-Sided Use." There was a further point, Mr. Algie. went on. It seemed to be a widely-held opinion that thb Government's "onesided use of radio for political purposes" was in itself producing a reaction calculated to hinder the development of that much desired and truly necessary spirit of unity. "Finally, if the Government insists on the continuance of the party system it must ;. cognise that, in a democracy, minorities have, rights," said Mr. Algie. "and that they are entitled to have those rights protected through an effective Opposition. Party Government presupposes the existence/of an Opposition and it implies that the Opposition fehall have a right to be heard. If the Government continues the system of party politics in wartime, it ia'ih duty bound to give to the Opposition a reasonable chance to criticise and to state its case. And, under those circumstances, a Government which makes a repeated and almost continuous use of a State or public utility for the promulgation of its own ideas, should give to its official opponents an opportunity to reply."