Broadcasting Policy

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25970, 25 November 1949, Page 6

Broadcasting Policy

Broadcasting was noticed as a

policy issue by Mr Holland at Auckland on Tuesday. Because broadcasting has become so important a medium of entertainment, information, propaganda, and, often, of indoctrination, its control is a fundamental political issue. The Labour Party, presumably, is satisfied with the broadcasting policy and services evolved during the last 14 years. The National Party, to judge by its criticisms of developments within the broadcasting system, is not satisfied with things as they are; but apparently it has not yet decided haw best to approach the question of reform. In promising to remove vital features of the nation’s life—issue and control of money and credit, and marketing 'of primary produce—from political control, the National Party has set a pattern of policy-making in which broadcasting will fall into place. A corporation similar to that which governs the British Broadca'sting Corporation would seem to offer the best solution, at the moment. Mr Holland said at Auckland that the party believes “it ’ would be “ better to study control methods “in other countries before making “ a decision ”. The wisdom of this cautious approach may appear later, if the National Party is given opportunity to show, as the Government, that it assesses broadcasting policy at its proper value.