Govt To Decide On Second Channel

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31832, 9 November 1968, Page 46

Govt To Decide On Second Channel

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, November 8.

Parliament this afternoon rejected an amendment to exclude the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation from the scope of the proposed broadcasting authority.

The amendment, moved by Mr A. H. Nordmeyer (Lab., Island Bay) at the outset of the debate on the commi,ttee stages of the Broadcasting Authority Bill, was lost by 33 votes to 27 after a three hours and a half debate.

The Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Adams-Schneider) said that the Government rightly reserved the power to tell the proposed broadcasting authority when the question of a second channel should be considered.

He said that a second channel would be “a very expensive business” and if the authority were to be set up now, the Government would not approve the establishment of a second channel immediately.

Mr Nordmeyer said that if the N.Z.B.C. did not comply with some condition laid down by the authority, then the authority would have the right to revoke a warrant held by the N.Z.B.C. Mr Nordmeyer said that the N.Z.B.C. had set high standards and given good service.

Mr Adams-Schneider said that Opposition members had not mentioned the fact that the directions given by the Minister of Broadcasting to the proposed authority had to be laid on the table of the House. Directions given while Parliament was not sitting had to be tabled within 28 days of its sitting. Nowhere else in the world, he said, was there such a provision.

The authority had the right to tell the public of any directions given to it by the Minister, he said.

“Both Wavs”

Mr Nordmeyer said that the Government wanted to have it both ways—to set up an independent body with no Government control but also one in which the Government would have some say. Mr Adams-Sehneider said that it was only fair that the same rules should apply to the N.Z.B.C. as to commercial enterprise.

He denied that the new authority would be able to take warrants from the N.Z.B.C. and hand them to private stations unless a condition of the warrant were not complied with. It could happen only if the N.Z.B.C. were not prepared to comply with the conditions of a warrant. “Knowing the efficiency of the N.Z.B.C. it is inconceivable that it should step out of line with the conditions of the warrant,” said the Minister.

Mrs E. L. Tombleson (Nat., Gisborne) said the Labour

Government was the worst offender on record for interferring with broadcasting policy.

Mr D. A. Highet (Nat., Remuera) said the idea of the bill was to introduce competition among private inter-

ests, as in Australia, where there were 111 private radio stations and three private television channels.

Reduced Revenue The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr Watt) said the introduction of private enterprise would mean reduced revenue for the N.Z.B.C. and would consequently reduce the corporation’s efficiency. The corporation would not be in a position to make as many grants to the arts as it had done in the past. Mr D. J. Riddiford (Nat., Wellington Central) said it was not possible for the N.Z.B.C. to supply the needs of advertisers and there was room for other stations. Mr C. J. Moyle (Lab., Manakau) said the Minister of Broadcasting had every intention of maintaining and increasing political control of the N.Z.B.C.

Cultural Levy Under the bill the authority would be able to levy private broadcasting stations for grants or subsidies to any cultural or artistic body. Mr Moyle sought information on the amount of the levy and asked the Minister to guarantee that the amount levied would be no less than the amount at present set aside by the N.Z.B.C. for cultural purposes. Mr R. J. Tizard (Lab., Pakuranga) asked whether a second channel owned privately would cost less in overseas funds than a second channel run by the N.Z.B.C. “It is going to cost overseas funds whoever owns it,” he said. “Not everything the N.Z.B.C. has done is 100 per cent correct, but it is far better than anything that private enterprise would do,” said Mr Tizard. “Private enterprise will be allowed to pick the best places in the country, not to provide coverage of the whole country. Does the Minister seriously think that private enterprise would provide coverage for South Westland,” he said.