Equal Pay Advocated In Broadcasting Service

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 14

Equal Pay Advocated In Broadcasting Service

(New Zeaiana Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 23. If the Government had been sincere, it would have provided for equal pay for the women employees of the corporation to be set up under the Broadcasting Corporation Bill said Mr S. A. Whitehead (Opposition. Nelson) in the House of Representatives today. Mr Whitehead said the employees of the Broadcasting Service were being taken out of the Public Service and put into the corporation, and because salaries would be set by the Public Service Commission they could not be higher than the Public Service scale and could be lower. The House was considering the report on the bill. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) said it was the Government which could most objectively ensure that only "developing, instructing and improving programmes” were shown on television. “Twenty hours of good broadcasting or television can be destroyed by one bad halfhour”

Once private stations had begun operating, the Minister would be unable to control them. This had been proved in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Mr Nash said that both the Minister and the Government would be reluctant to disagree with, or antagonise, these groups with their big influence over the public The Opposition’s main objection was that private television was being presented for nothing other than profit. “It’s for the ill of our people, and for the ill of our younger people who have not the same control over themselves as older people." Mr Nash said.

Mr A. j. Faulkner (Oppo-

sition, Roskill) said the main centres would get private television stations, which would make profits, while the taxpayers would have to subsidise television for the rural area.

Mr A. H. Nordmeyer (Opposition, Island Bay) insisted that applications for private broadcasting licences should be brought by the Minister to the House.

“This issue is such an important matter that it should be brought to Parliament if there is a case for the granting of a private licence,” he said.

Mr Whitehead said the assets of the Broadcasting Service should not be handed over to a part-time corporation, to which the most outrageous political appointments could be made without there being any right of appeal. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Skinner) said, with the power of the Minister. the three members that would run the corporation could do almost anything. Every asset could be sold and loans made to enable private concerns to buy its stations

Key Money In New Plymouth (N.Z Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov 23 ‘What business is that of yours?” interjected Mr E. P Aderman (Government, New Plymouth) in the House of Representatives today when Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opposition, Roskill) asked the Minister of Customs (Mr Marshall) whether the Customs Department had secured rental premises in a building in Currie street. New Plymouth, and if so would he tell the House the annual rent and the amount if any of any key money paid Mr Faulkner said it had been alleged that a shop was recently leased in the same area with a key money charge of £l5OO. Bird Seed (Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov 23. Miss M B Howard, Opposition, Sydenham) asked the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Marshall) in the House of Representatives today whether he would issue further licences for the importation of birdseed—"as the position is again acute.”