BRITISH "RADIO PRIEST"

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 15

BRITISH "RADIO PRIEST"

DIRECTOR OF 8.8. C. t CRITICISE*) PART IN ARCHBISHOP'S BROADCAST INCONSEQUENT DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 18, 7.36 p.m.) LONDON, December 17. Members expecting to hear criticism of the Archbishop of Canterbury's broadcast, with its reference to King Edward's social circle, the House of Commons was crowded for the debate on the report on the Lambert slander case. This case has raised questions about the internal administration of the British Broadcasting Corporation, which are mainly of domestic interest. Mr H. B. Lees Smith (Labour) said his friends in the corporation had warned him that he must not use the telephone because the telephones were tapped. Mr H. Graham White (Liberal) emphasised the importance of strengthening Empire broadcasts because of the efficient programmes in English from foreign countries. The first mention of the Archbishop of Canterbury's broadcast was made by Lieutenant-Com-mander R. T. H. Fletcher (Labour), who said: "I have been informed that Sir John Reith (Director-Gen-eral of the British Broadcasting Corporation) participated in that commination ceremony. If so I can only say that America has seen with relief the end of its radio priest (Father Coughlin). If here the duties of radio priest and director are to be combined I think we are in for a remarkable future indeed." The debate meandered into trivialities of criticism of crooners and Sunday programmes. Sir Walter Womersley denied that telephone conversations were tapped. He added that the staff was being encouraged to organise staff associations. The affairs of the corporation could be discussed again in the debate on the estimates. After this the much-heralded debate fizzled out.