POLITICAL BROADCASTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27906, 1 March 1956, Page 9

POLITICAL BROADCASTS

Sir,—Since Mr Marshall has announced that the Government is considering some amendments to the Electoral Act. it appears to me an appropriate time to ask the Minister, through you. the following question: i x e Government considering anv alterations to the control of the broadcasting service during Parliamentary elections? This, in my opinion is just as important to the fair-minded elector as any proposal for preferential voting. A suggestion was put forward by Federated Farmers in North Au '-' kl:| nd at the time of the 1954 election that, during elections a judicial committee, assisted by the Speaker of the House, should allocate radio time to the various parties contesting the election. This proposal appeared to me a fair method of overcoming the criticism of the present Government in its high-handed use of the broadcasting facilities.—Yours, etc., „ . „ ELECTOR. February 21, 1956.

I“The allocation of broadcasting time during the Parliamentary election is not a matter requiring legislative provision, and any new Electoral Act, therefore, would not contain reference to this matter." said the Minister in charge of the Electoral Department <Mr J. R. Marshall), when this letter was referred to him. ‘‘Such an act is primarily concerned with the administrative provisions governing a poll for the election of members of Parliament"!