Two Broadcasting Bills Proceed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 36

Two Broadcasting Bills Proceed

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 12.

Parliament was told today that two far-reaching bills are to go ahead. One bans radio broadcasts from a ship or structure on the high seas and the other establishes a broadcasting authority to consider applications for the establishment of private radio stations.

The Broadcasting Authority Bill and the Post Office Amendment Bill (No. 2), which were introduced into Parliament last session and referred to select committees for consideration during the recess, were reported back this morning.

in the Broadcasting Authority Bill.

He said the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association asked for a right of appeal to the Supreme Court on questions of law, and a limited right of appeal on questions of fact and discretion with the prior leave of the authority or the Supreme Court. Appeals must be heard by at least three judges of the Supreme Court—in effect, a full court. Appeal Basis On questions of fact the appeal will not be a rehearing in the sense of hearing the evidence again—but will be heard on the notes of evidence and other documents given to the authority at its hearing. But the Supreme Court would have a discretion to rehear any evidence or hear further evidence. The original clause provided that decision of the authority should not be subject to appeal. Referring to hearings for applications for warrants, the Minister said it had been decided that every hearing should he in public unless the authority considered, in the interest of the parties and all other persons concerned, that the whole or any part of the hearing should be in private. General Policy Mr Adams-Schneider said one clause in the bill had stated originally that in the exercise of its functions and powers the authority should comply with the general policy of the Government But he told a press conference that he intended to introduce an amendment to the clause at a later date. The proposed amendment set out above qualified the present wording by limiting it to the general policy of the Government “in relation to the functions and powers of the authority.”

The Statutes Revision Committee recommended that the Broadcasting Authority Bill should proceed with amendments and that the Post Office Amendment Bill (No. 2) should proceed without amendment. The Broadcasting Authority Bill sets up an authority to consider and adjudicate on applications for warrants authorising the establishment of private broadcasting stations—that is, stations operated by persons other than the N.Z.B.C. Reporting back the bill, Sir Leslie Munro (Nat, Waipa) told the House that amendments proposed by the committee included the following: The chairman of the threeman authority should be a barrister or solicitor of not less than seven years experience so that applications would be heard in a judicial and impartial manner. Applicants for warrants should have the right of appeal to the Supreme Court. Hearings of applications before the authority should be public. Two Labour members of the Statutes Revision Committee, Mr A E Nordmeyer (Island Bay) and Mr F. M. Colman (Petone) had opposed the bill.

Sir Leslie Munro told the House that the bill was “one of the most important matters” which Parliament would consider this session because it dealt with probably the most important information medium there was. Comment Reserved Mr Nordmeyer—the only Opposition speaker on the bill this morning—said that although he opposed the bill he would reserve further comment until the second reading debate Reporting back the Post Office Amendment Bill (No. 2) the chairman of the Statutes Revision Committee (Mr D. J. Riddlford, Nat, Wellington Central) said the bill made it unlawful to establish and operate a radio broadcasting station on a ship or structure on the high seas. It also dealt with the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts to prosecute people operating such stations. Mr Riddlford said the committee heard submissions during the recess from Radio Hauraki. Second Reading He said Radio Hauraki supported the bill but indicated that the company wished to apply for a licence to run a private broadcasting station under the conditions of the new Broadcasting Authority Bill. Both bills will now go forward for second readings. Later, the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr AdamsSchneider) amplified the amendments made to clauses