BROADCAST ON POLITICS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28019, 13 July 1956, Page 15

BROADCAST ON POLITICS

ALLOCATION OF TIME TO PARTIES SOCIAL CREDIT DELEGATES WAIT ON MINISTER (Neu Zealand Press A ;soctation) WELLINGTON, July 12. The allocation of radio broadcasting time to political parties in the General Election campaign next year is to be considered by. the Government. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr K. J. Holyoake) said this today after discussions with a Social Credit Political League delegation consisting of Messrs W. B. Owen, Winston Smith, and J. E. Colechin. The Minister in charge of Broadcas f ing (Mr R. M. Algie) also met the delegation with Mr Holyoake The delegation asked for an early statement on the principles governing the allocation of radio time, said Mr Holyoake after the meeting. The subject had b r en one of considerable correspondence between the league and the Government Ministers concerned, he add°d.

Mr Holyoake said he had reaffirmed the Government's policy of keeping party political broadcasting off the national services except during an election campaign, and then under arrangements which were considered among partv leaders. “In electioneering broadcasts, the Government has endeavoured to ensure that national issues raised by the major parties were placed before the electors.” Mr Holvoake said. “As in the past, up to 20 organisations have contested a General Election, it has not been considered practicable to provide time on the air for every group which has claimed to be a political organisation.

“It is the Government’s view that requests for radio time could only be agreed to if the partv concerned is a nation-wide party, bringing forward issues of national interest. It goes without saying that the Government would not agree to make the radio facilities of the State available to any political organisation which seeks to overthrow Npw Zealand’s social order and lovqlties ”

Mr Holvoake said that the delegation had as v ed for an early statement of the "overnin rt such broadcast's. He agreed to bring this forward for the consideration of the Govnynment, though he felt it would be difficult to make a hard-and-fas* arrangement when there was so much time before the next General Election for circumstances to change.