ADVENTISTS WANT RADIO TIME

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31167, 17 September 1966, Page 22

ADVENTISTS WANT RADIO TIME

The barring of the Seventh Day Adventist Church from the use of radio in New Zealand was a restriction of religious liberty. Pastor F. L. Stokes, president of the North New Zealand Conference of Adventists, said in Christchurch. If there was a state church In New Zealand, such as in Britain, one could understand it. but there was not, Mr Stokes said. Even in Roman Catholic countries the Adventist Church had the privilege to broadcast—it was not allowed in New Zealand, said Pastor M G. Townend, Adventist director of radio and television in the South Pacific. The Adventist Church was not anti-religion and its programmes were not designed to put forward a particular view but to help people with their problems. Mr Stokes said. There was also no attempt to fight against other churches, he said. Pastor W. R. L. Scragg. principal of the Adventist College at Longburn and recently appointed world director of radio and television programmes, said that his church has been trying to get on the air in New Zealand since 1938. “We missed an opportunity years ago when in Auckland; the church was offered time on private radio stations. At I that time we felt we were too| small to afford it,” Mr Townend said. A petition to Parliament ini 1964 from some Wanganui l members of the Church was well received by a petitions

I committee which recommended in favour of granting radio time, but this was disapproved on the floor of the House. Mr Scragg said. “I find it difficult to understand in a country of freedom ■ of thought why this happens," he said. “Not in the mainstream of 1 Christian tradition,” was just , a nice little hedge to hide bej hind, Mr Scragg said, referr ring to the reason for not granting time given by the c New Zealand Broadcasting J Service. Although the church , had asked it was unable to 1 discover what the article of r faith was which was the reat son for putting it out of the j main Christian tradition. The Adventist Church was 5 experienced in the production .of programmes for radio and it had several . studios, including one at 1 Sydney, producing nearly 3000 programme, a week for 2000 i outlets throughout the world. About 18 months ago 45 ’, films were sent to the National Council of Churches Commisjision on Television in Wellingj ton, and returned as “unsuitI able,” Mr Stokes said. The Adventist Church did ' not want to invade on the i other churches’ right to free time: it merely wanted the privilege to buy time, Mr ! Scragg said. The Church spent $200,000 ! a year on broadcasts and television programmes in AustraJia each year and was willing to pay considerable sums if required in New Zealand, Mr Townend said. ‘ The problem in New Zealand at the moment was one of religious monopoly, Mri Scragg said. The idea of appointing a committee separate from the churches to investigate the matter should be thought! , about, said Pastor H. W. Hollingworth, president of the! South New Zealand Conference.