BROADCASTING BILL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21805, 10 June 1936, Page 12

BROADCASTING BILL

1 Political Control Of System

WARM DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

OPPOSITION TO RADIO

ADVERTISING

IFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter]

WELLINGTON, June 9

Political control of broadcasting. and the desirability or otherwise of advertising over the aiir were the two points most warmly debated in the House of Representatives this evening during the second reading of the Broadcasting Bill. The ‘ fate of the Broadcasting Board seems to have dropped into the background in degree of importance, and now members are more concerned, apparently, about the extent to which the State is to have control of the service. Opposition speakers to-night confined most of their protests to those two major points—political control, and advertising through the proposed commercial stations. The debate was broadcast, and was adjourned at 10.45 when the House rose until to-morrow.

"Broadcasting is a national service, and we believe that it should be controlled by the Government in the interests of the people,” said the Post-master-General (the Hon. F. Jones), when moving the second reading. “We believe that it should be used, not only for entertainment, but also for the enlightenment of the public on matters affecting their interests and welfare.” Referring to the growth in the popularity of broadcasting, Mr Jones said

that when it was introduced in 1924 there had been 2830 sets licensed. Now there were 192,265. and it was safe to say that there were more than 500,000 listeners; but there was still room for expansion. Protests Expected “There will undoubtedly be protests from the Opposition over the abolition of the Broadcasting Board; but we believe it is not wise to delegate powers to a body of individuals. The board has done good service, and 1 appreciate the co-operation I have received from the members; but the board was invested with greater powers than the Government. I do not doubt the ability or sincerity of the members of the board; but broadcasting is a service that should be brought under the control of the people, through their elected representatives. “Ever since I have been in Parliament, at least the Labour party has always emphasised the importance of assisting B stations. Some of them have attained great popularity, even to the extent of exceeding the national stations in public esteem: and as the B stations were responsible for pioneering the service they are entitled to some consideration. Objection may be taken because they are to receive a portion of the revenue from license fees in the form of subsidy; but I would like to point out that out of the revenue of the British Broadcasting Corporation a large amount is used for purposes other than the promotion of the broadcasting service.”

Advertising Rights

“I know the opinion had been formed that we were going to grant advertising rights to B stations,” Mr Jones continued, “and some of them will be disappointed. I was informed by a recent deputation, however, that only half of the B stations not at present receiving subsidies wished to advertise. That means that only seven B stations sought that right. I think the B stations will be quite willing to accept our proposals as they have been revealed in the bill.”

In justification of the principle of Ministerial control, Mr Jones said that a committee set up to consider broadcasting in Great Britain had recommended the appointment of a Minister for Broadcasting, with control of the technical side in the hands of the Postmaster-General. The bill made provision for the appointment, if necessary, of a Minister for Broadcasting, and he thought it was a wise provision. New Wellington Station The Minister said that by the end of the year the Government hoped to be able to broadcast from the new station now under construction at Titahi Bay In a way that would provide an almost Dominion-wide coverage. The Government would provide a national

service that would be available to districts which were not at present adequately served. There was enough land at Titahi Bay to enable the establishment of a short-wave station, and the Government ■ could visualise the time when such a station would be in operation. Dealing with broadcasts for school children, the Minister said there were at present 550 schools receiving service, and the number was increasing all the time. This provided a valuable mental stimulus to the pupils. It could be made a connecting link between the school and the main stream of national life. The Government intended to develop the service further, and he thought it would be possible to show the results in at least 12 months. Room for Expansion “There is plenty of room for expansion in our broadcasting service,” said the Minister. “There are at present more than 200,000 homes in the Dominion which are not served, and the duty of the Government is to try to put radio in every home. One of the principal obstacles is the high price of sets. If it is possible to provide a good set at a low price we will endeavour to do so. Royalties are a factor in keeping up the prices of sets, and it may be pointed out that the royalties on a valve-socket for a six-valve set amount to 21s in New Zealand, compared with 5s 6d in England. 1 am not saying that there is racketeering; but we are making enquiries to see if the charges are fair. This Government is going to bring radio to everyone.” “Broadcasting is a national institution, and it is wrong for party politics to come in and control such a service,” said the Hon. A. Hamilton (Nat., Wallace), who was Postmaster-General in the last Government. The present form of control, free from politics and free from commercial profit, he said, was undoubtedly the best system. “This bill is a far-reaching measure, and one of the most autocratic and dictatorial introduced this session,” said Mr Hamilton. “It goes much furthe’" than the Postmaster-General indicated to the House.”

The Minister for Transport (the Hon. R. Semple): Another step towards— Mr Hamilton: . Yes. Another step in the direction of Hitlerism, along with the Minister for Transport and his Hitlerism.

The Postmaster-General had said it was the intention of the Government to control broadcasting for the people: but the listeners were the people who had to find the money. It was they who should receive the main consideration. The Government was grabbing a well-run and efficient service. Commercial advertising was the difficulty, and the Government was likely to land itself in trouble if it played about with commercial stations. He advised the Government to step warily with commercial broadcasting. Strong exception to the political control of broadcasting was taken by Mr Hamilton. The Postmaster-General, he said, had given no examples of anywhere in the world where there was political control of broadcasting. Party politics was going to dictate what the people were to hear. The home would be invaded by a lot of political talk which could well be left to the ordinary channels of news. It looked very much as if the commercial stations were going to be used as a localised weapon to bring the newspapers in different parts of the country into line if they did not report the doings of the Government as it would like. The Hon. D. G. Sullivan: Does that frighten you? Mr Hamilton; It is a very doubtful purpose to wh ; ch broadcasting is going to be put, if it is to whip the newspapers if they do not say what the Government wants. If any Government was ever put in by the newspapers, it was the present Government. The Government went in with an anti-Gov-ernment wave, created a good deal by the newspapers. “Tremendous Possibilities” That the Government would take a forward view cf the tremendous possibilities for service offered by radio breadcasting was claimed by Mr C. L. Carr (Govt., Timaru). “This is a bill alter my own heart,” Mr Carr said. “We are living in a new age. This is an age of new governments and new methods, and new men. Broadcasting must have a forward look. This Government has that forward look, and realises the infinite possibilities for good in broadcasting: but with the new institution and a new Government progress must be made by some system of trial and error.” Mr Carr said that the Government; did not intend that broadcasting should I be controlled by a board of “incompetent political favourites” or a staff | of very unequal qualifications. The I control would be achieved by something better. The Government would; see that control came from the re- ! presentatives of the people, elected to j do the job. “We need a new outlook for broadcasting. new methods and new men,” | Mr Carr said. “The old Government i accepted radio rather grudgingly—they ' more or less put up with it, except when it played into their own hands and they could use it for party purposes.”

“The board which the member for Wallace has described as so efficient is pronounced as incompetent—utterly incompetent,” said Mr Carr. “ w hem by? ’ asked an Opposition member.

“By those who judge a tree by its rods,” retorted Mr Carr. “The board members were not chosen for their qualifications—they did not have any.” “What is wrong with advertising? have advertising in the newspapers, on hoardings, in films, and on posters. Why not, then, advertising over the air? Over the air it can be cleverly done, and can be made entertaining,” Mr Carr said. “If people do not like it, they do not need to listen to it. Because there is advertising in the newspapers, you do not have to read it.” Programmes Criticised Criticising the programmes arranged by the board. Mr D. McDougall and., Mataura) said he had heard “stuff put over the air” that would bring a blush to the cheek of a dead Chinaman. He thought that under the new system radio entertainment would be more in line with the desires of listeners. He cpngratulated the Minister on bringing down the bill, and said that in future the people would know exactly what their representatives in Parliament were saying, instead of having to rely on mutilated newspaper reports. The Government would give everybody a fair go. . , ~ Mr J. Hargest (Nat., Awarua) said that the bill gave the party in office dictatorial powers that were not in the interests of democracy. He claimed that listeners would soon become heartily tired of advertising over the air.’ It was clear that the Government wished to use the radio against the newspapers. The Opposition felt that the press had been fairer to the present Government, both when in Opposition last year and as the new Government, than it had been to his party. If the Government thought that the attitude of the press to-day was a justification for the bill, then he contended that the leader of the Government was under a misapprehension. The Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) said that the member for Wallace had indulged in something that could only be described as an hallucination when he depicted New Zealand as likely to be hurled into the same position as Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini. *‘l want to ask the Opposition,” said Mr Fraser, “what party in this House has consistently stood for free speech and fought for free speech? Labour has been foremost in claiming that right for the citizens of New Zealand.”

Mr Hargest: That right has never been denied.

Mr Fraser: Many rights have been trampled underfoot, and it is preposterous to imagine that a party which has always associated itself with the right of free speech should deny the most sacred heritage possessed by the people because it is now the Government Labour had won, not by dictating public opinion or by dominating public opinion, but by putting its views in front of the people, and

asking them to judge for themselves. That method was going to be continued. If Labour did anything else, it would be betraying its principles and the highest principles in public conduct and equity. The policy of the late Government was to delegate its responsibility to boards. No one could claim that the Broadcasting Board, as a board, had played any part in the success of broadcasting in New Zealand.

The leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes); You are not very fair to the board.

The Minister said his remarks were directed at the board as a board, and not at any individual member. Referring to political broadcasts, Mr Fraser said a fear had been expressed that when the Government took full control of broadcasting, listeners would be deluged with speeches on political subject®. Nothing could be further from the thoughts of anybody. The Government realised that listeners were entitled to the best that the system could give them, but there was a place for political speeches. Nothing had been more popular with listeners than broadcasts from the House. It was the people’s right to know what their representatives were savins and doins in Parliament