New “Compass” Debate On Broadcasting

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31835, 13 November 1968, Page 1

New “Compass” Debate On Broadcasting

(New Zealand Press Association!

WELLINGTON, November 12.

Tomorrow night’s television “Compass” programme will be on the Broadcasting Authority Bill—but it will not be the programme the corporation announced on Monday it had deferred until after the bill became law.

At the suggestion of the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Adams-Schneider) the corporation tonight prepared a programme in which Mr Adams-Schneider and Dr A. M. Finlay (Lab., Waitakere) were questioned by a panel.

This will be shown nation-wide tomorrow at the normal “Compass” time.

The Acting Director-General of Broadcasting (Mr L. R. Sceats) said in a statement today that the screening of the taped programme which was deferred would be considered after the passage of the bill.

In Parliament today Mr Adams-Schneider said he had suggested to the N.Z.B.C. that a debate on the bill be televised tomorrow night at the time “Compass” was normally screened.

During debate on the committee stages of the bill, the chairman, Mr J. H. George (Nat., Otago Central) ruled that the controversy over the “Compass" programme could not be debated in the House at that time.

But when clarifying of a clause during the debate, Mr Adams-Schneider slipped in his statement.

The subject was further aired when the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) rose to a point of order. He said he had been informed the pro- , gramme would be televised by the corporation. , In view of the decision, he suggested debate on the bill be delayed until after the screening of the programme. Mr Kirk said: “1 am informed that the corporation has had a change of mind, and is to go ahead with a programme. The corporation, has invited one member of

the Opposition and Mr Adams-Schneider to be interviewed for the programme tonight.

Public Interest

“This change of mind indicates that it recognises the considerable public interest in the bill." I Mr Adams-Schneider said Ihe had no intention of delaying debate on the bill. The Minister then explained the background to the “Compass" programme being deferred. He said the corporation had planned the programme without his knowledge—it was usual for it not to discuss programmes with the Minister.

He had learned of the programme when he was told on Monday it was to be deferred. “The corporation only intended taping the programme, then to televise it after the bill was passed.”

Mr Adams-Schneider said he sent a letter to the corporation this afternoon suggesting it put a programme on.

His letter to Mr Sceats read:

Minister’s Letter

“In view of the controversy which has arisen regarding

the corporation’s decision to defer the proposed 'Compass’ programme until all stages of the legislation have been completed, I would be pleased if you would consider arranging for a television programme on this subject while the debate is in progress.

“1 would be happy to take part in such a programme. “I want to emphasise that the Government’s wish has been to have this subject discussed in public as fully as possible.” Mr Adams-Schneider said Mr Sceats had consequently asked Dr Finlay and himself to appear tonight for an interview which would be shown tomorrow night. “I look forward to it with a great deal of interest,” Mr Adams-Schneider said. “1 am amazed that since the bill was introduced last year no member of the Opposition has been invited to debate the bill on television.”

Interview Panel The “Compass” team for tomorrow night’s production will be the chairman, Mr I. Cross, and an interview par el of Professor J. Roberts, Mr 1. Johnstone, Mr G. Symmans and Mr D. Fitzgerald. Mr Sceats said that mounting'this programme did not rule out broadcast of the projected “Compass” programme on specific issues, the deferment of, which had caused the present controversy.

Mr Sceats today made an emphatic denial that there had been any Government interference or control whatsoever in the corporation’s decision to defer the “Compass” programme on the Broadcasting Authority Bill.

“I make this statement completely and utterly without reservation,” he said at a press conference. Mr Sceats told reporters that the programme had neither been “dropped” nor “killed”—it had merely been deferred.

Later Screening “It should be clearly understood that it is our intention to record the programme for screening after the legislation has been disposed of in Parliament,” he said.

Mr Sceats said the same principle of deferment would apply to discussion on radio, but he emphasised that the corporation had already given the public direct Parliamentary broadcasts on every debate of the bill in Parliament.

Another reason for the decision to defer the programme was the fact that the corporation itself was an interested party in the new legislation which will set up an independent broadcasting authority to issue licences to private radio and television stations.

Describing the format of the planned programme, Mr Sceats said a panel was envisaged comprising Mr AdamsSchneider, Mr Kirk, a commentator, Mr Cross and Mr G. Dryden, marketing manager of United Empire Box, Ltd.

Special Guests They would be asked questions by about 35 specially invited guests. Mr Sceats said he regretted the inconvenience which the deferment might . have caused to those invited to attend the programme. Asked to explain the apparent contradiction between his statement that Mr AdamsSchneider would be on the panel and the fact that the

Minister first heard about the programme yesterday, Mr Sceats said:

“There has obviously been a slip-up somewhere in our communications .with the Minister." ■ -

Mr Sceats said the decision to defer the programme was made by “a responsible officer” of the corporation at director level. It was not made at board level—the decision was taken by the director of television, he said.

No Interference Mr Adams-Schneider said tonight there was no question of political interference causing the deferment of the programme. --

The Minister said .be had not even known of the programme until Mr Sceats mentioned to him that the programme had been deferred. Mr Kirk accused the corporation of being almost “tail-wagging” in its desire to please the Governmerit. “Silence is no answer to the problem. Indeed it is the worst answer. It is not the job of the N.Z.B.C. to mould opinion—that is readily conceded—but it is certainly very much the corporation’s business to place all sides of the matter before the people,” said Mr Kirk.

P.S.A. ‘Amazed’ The vice-president of the Public Service Association (Mr D. C. Rodgers) expressed amazement tonight at the decision to cancel the programme.

Mr Rodgers said that the public, could reasonably assume that the decision indicated political interference by the Government.