Election Broadcasting

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26511, 28 August 1951, Page 6

Election Broadcasting

i When in Opposition the National • Party objected properly and reason- ■ ably to misuse of the broadcasting System for electioneering purposes. Its objection was supported by ordinary fair-minded citizens who resented the Government using a public amenity with less than scrupulous fairness. As . the Government. the National Party deserves credit for having met objections it raised when in Opposition; the public will count it in the party’s favour that it- has put precept into practice. Broadcasting time and facilities have been divided evenly and, in respect of election-eve broadcasting, with much more fairness than the last Government observed in the 1946 and 1949 General Elections, when the Government monopolised broadcasting time on the night before the election. The present Government will revert to the practice operating before 1946, and divide the time allocated between the two party leaders. Obviously, somebody must have the “ last word ”, and quite reasonably this will go to the leader of the Government party. But since Mr Holland has verbally undertaken not to listen to Mr Nash's final address. Mr Holland will enjoy none of the advantages the last Government’s final speaker enjoyed in 1946 and 1949 of replying to the other party leader’s “last word”. Thus, at a time when both parties stand on a basis of equality Before the electors, equality is preserved for both on the publicly-owned broadcasting system. There ate reasons for both immediate and longer term gratitude'to the National Party. A bad practice has been ended and a fair one reinstituted. It will be difficult for any Government again to take advantage of the broadcasting system in a way that will best promote its own election chances and most handicap its opponents.