SWITCHING OF NEWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 6

SWITCHING OF NEWS

QUESTION IN THE HOUSE

EXPLANATION BY MR. FRASER

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The switching of the usual Pacific news service for troops from 2YA to 2YC when the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, was speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate last week, was the subject of an urgent question addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, by Mr. Gordon (Nat., Rangitikei) in the House of Representatives this morning.

Mr. Gordon said it was alleged by members of the public that when Mr. Sullivan was speaking the Pacific transmission was delayed so that the Minister's speech should not be interfered with. If that were so, would the Prime Minister sec that the same facilities were a'vailable for every member of the House so as to give equal opportunities for publicity to all members?

Mr. Fraser said it was not correct to say that the Pacific transmission was delayed in order that Mr. Sullivan's speech, which was a Government reply to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, would not be interfered with. It was highly desirable that the speech should not be interfered with, and the Chief Whip of the Government party. Mr. Richards, on making inquiries, was told that the Pacific transmission would be switched to 2YC on the understanding that 2YC had the same coverage as 2YA. Subsequently it was ascertained that 2YC had not the , same coverage. He was sure that the House would not. want to deprive the boys in the field of that valuable broadcast. Opposition members interjected that everybody knew that 2YC had a smaller coverage. Mr. Richards: Rubbish! The Prime Minister added that he was just telling the facts as they were known. He thought that when the Director of Broadcasting knew about it he realised that a mistake had been made.