Government Asks Public For Submissions On TV

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28820, 14 February 1959, Page 14

Government Asks Public For Submissions On TV

(New Zeatana Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 13.

The Government is inviting representations on television. The submissions, to be in writing, must be in the bands of the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Board) before April 18. The representations can cover “any aspects- of television," but should not include applications to run television stations. Announcing this in Auckland today, Mr Boord said that after he had seen the submissions, they would be referred to the interdepartmental committee investigating television. Anyone would have the right to appear before the committee to amplify

his written submission, and to be questioned by the committee. Mr Boord said the committee had now completed a report on the time television should be established; whether it should be privately or State-controlled, or both; the areas it should embrace; finance; transmission hours; programme standards and finance. Once the second report was completed, it and the first report would be referred to Cabinet for examination and decision. Mr Boord said. “I must stress that whatever the type of investigating procedure adopted, it will take a considerable period of time before the investigations can be completed and. decisions implemented,” Mr Boord said > He described the decision to invite submissions from the public as “the next logical step to be followed.”

Asked if anyone making submissions could advocate private enterprise for television, Mr Boord said: “Yes and people are quite entitled to write in and say they don’t want television at all."