PARLIAMENT Mr Gotz Recalls Radio In Mr Scrimgeour’s Day

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 16

PARLIAMENT Mr Gotz Recalls Radio In Mr Scrimgeour’s Day

(New Zealand Preu Awoctation) WELLINGTON, November IS. The only reason the Opposition was protesting against the Government’s decision to put broadcasting under corporation control was that a Labour Government would no longer be able to employ people like the former controller of Commercial Broadcasting, Mr C. G. Scrimgeour, as political propagandists, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Gotz) claimed in the House of Representatives tonight. Speaking in the committee stages of the Broadcasting Corporation Bill, Mr Gotz, a former radio announcer, described Mr Scrimgeour as the “finest socialist propagandist” New Zealand had ever had. The Opposition is strongly opposing the bill which sets Up a three-member corporation to control broadcasting.

When the debate was resumed today, Mr J. GEdwards (Opposition, Napier) asked who would be responsible for developing “uneconomic” television in areas outside the four main centres. “Will the corporation do so, while private enterprise makes the profit, or will the corporation do so in the same way as the urban telephoneuser is carrying the rural telephone user today?” asked Mr Edwards. “What is going to happen to the National Orchestra if the corporation has the right to close It down?” The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) repeated that some of the best sections of the community, including the leaders Of the churches, were completely opposed to the private ownership of radio and television. Mr Nash said Mr Kinsella's answer, when it was pointed out that the Post Office was a monopoly, "That the Post Office did not pervert the minds of the people,” was an admission that television could pervert the minds of the people. Mr F. Hackett (Opposition, Orey Lynn) was referring to the two private broadcasting stations, which, he said, would continue, when the Under-Secretary to the Minister of Industrie* and Commerce (Mr B. E. TalboyS) interjected: "You have undertaken to wipe them out.” Mr Hackett: No, we haven t. We said we would revoke any licence issued under this legislation. Mr Taiboys: Read your newspaper. Read your Hansard. Mr Hackett went on to point out the danger ot a television station being controlled by an organisation that held the distributing rights for television films. He said there was television equipment already tn New Zealand to establish a station for the holders of television film copyrights.

Churehe** Attitude Mr D. J Riddiford (Government, Wellington Central) said Mr Nash had suggested that the entire membership of the churches was opposed to private ownership of radio and television stations. This was not true The Catholic Church was not opposed to private broadcasting Mr N V Douglas (Opposition, Auckland Central) said private enterprise wanted to enter the television field solely for profit. "They are the same as the unscrupulous individuals who pervert the minds Of young people with gramophone records and paperbacks." No-one. he said, had been able to orove the claim the Broadcasting Service was inefficient, uneconomic, or unable to provide the future needs of the people.

Mr Taiboys said newspapers were run solely for the purpose of making a profit, but they had not destroyed anyone’s moral standard.

“Ute State is not the sole repository of moral standards This will provide for a better and livelier broadcasting system than we have had in the past.”

Mr P. Blanchfield (Opposition, Westland) said the National Orchestra, if it was not disbanded under private enterprise. would certainly be unable to play in the smaller centres, "we must not have profits before culture.

Closure Applied The Government applied the closure to end debate on the bill’s first clause just before 530 p m The Oppoaitien called tor a division and the closure motion was carried by 41 vote* to 30 After another division the elauae—«etuag out the bill's title—was approved by 41 votes to 30 Mr A H Nordmeyer (Opposition, island Bay) conceded that there might be some Government activities so widespread and comprehensive that they would be better bandied by a oorporatton than a Geverenrnnt department, but this did not apply » broadcasting Qn«?—*(—ion control ot the railways had been tried without success and the Poet Office was run efficiently at a department Tbe Deputy-Prim* MiftMer (Mr Marshall) agreed some departments were better run as departments, bus there were outstanding example* of the success of eorporstsoo cootroi. such as tbe N AC, and *• Tourist Hotel Cor-

poration, which, after a long period, was beginning to make a profit. Hie same could apply to broadcasting

and television. “The B BC. is a most successful example,” said Mr Marshall

Mr H Watt (Opposition. Onehunga) said: “I don’t think the B BC. is more successful then the N Z.B S I believe we get excellent service from the N.Z.B.S. We are handing over to am outside authority a job we were elected to do ” “Here is a Government department making money. It paid £206.000 in tax and made a profit of £76,000. I don't believe We will get a more efficient organisation. •‘Government speakers have not been able to produce any evidence to itow the N.Z.BS is inefficient or unable to do the job it is asked to do ” "Chickenfeed" Mr Gotz said be considered that the taxation paid and the earnings ot the NZB.S were “mere cttickenfeed,” compared with the eeminge of an organisation untrammelled by regulations

“1 have some little knowledge of broadcasting," said Mr Gotz. " Broadcasting is an adventurous service Those that take part are embarking on new fields of adventure.” The Labour Government bought out the “Friendly Road” station in Auckland, and with it Mr Scrimgeour, “the finest socialist propagandist New Zealand has known," who is now director of television in Communist China. Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opposition, Nelson) complained there was nothing in the bill saying how the three-man corporation was to be appointed. How will they be selected? What salaries will they be paid? Who will select a chairman and will they be asked their politics?”

Mr Whitehead suggested a second-rate man "not honest enough to admit his polities” might be selected in preference to a better-qualified

man who admitted his politics.

The Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Kinsella) said the chairman's job would be practically full-time. The other two members would be part-time members. The chairman Would be paid an honorarium.

"We ate trying to get members with wide cultural interests and business or executive ability,” he said. The Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr Skinner) said the establishment of a threeman corporation was a “farce and a sham.” One clause in the bill stated the corporation must carry out Government directives, yet the Government had contended it wanted to eliminate political interference.

“What a lot of humbug. The setting up of a corporation alters nothing at all,” Mr Skinner said. “Our chief objection is that the corporation would have the right to grant licences to private television and radio stations.” Mr R. D. Muldoon (Government, Tamaki) said there had been political control of broadcasting “right down the line.” Reference had been banned bn the All Black issue, higher taxes and the 1958 import restrictions. Mr W. A. Fox (Opposition. Miramar) claimed the establishment of a corporation was a “front.” “Do you think they will select anyone opposed to the National Party?”

When the junior Government Whip (Mr J. G. George) moved that a vote be taken on clause 3—to appoint the three members of the corporation—the Chairman of Committees (Mr jack) said the clause had been discussed for If hours by 21 speakers. The clause was passed by 40 votes to 31

On clause 4, which provides for members of the corporation to retire in rotation, Mr Whitehead said that the first member’s retirement would be decided by lot, and on the spin of a coin might depend the conditions of employment of the staff of 1400 without the right of appeal.