Labour wants channel now

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32703, 4 September 1971, Page 1

Labour wants channel now

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 3. The public demand was for a second television channel now —not one in about five years time, Mr A. J. Faulkner, the Opposition member of Parliament for Roskill, said in an interview today.

He was giving the Labour Party’s view on the Broadcasting Authority’s report on the extension of television services.

Mr Faulkner said that noone was going to get particularly excited about the fact that colour might be introduced on the existing channel in a couple of years. “Nor will they be excited thaL if this Government remains in power, a second programme by way if a second channel may not eventuate until 1978," he added. “The public demand is for it now. While they will welcome colour it does hot have a higher priority than a second programme, which only a second channel can provide. “A Labour Government would give a higher priority to the establishment of a second channel than the authority recommends.” Mr Faulkner reminded the Government of the undertaking given by the previous Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Adams-Schneider, before the last General Election that a second channel would be in use by 1972. Japanese offer Colour television sets produced by Japanese manufacturers could be landed in

New Zealand for as little as $2OO, according to a spokesman for a Japanese company, in Auckland todhy. However, he said the price could be as high as $250 for the 20in set. At present the 20in set sells retail in Japan for about $3OO.

Authority’s report in Parliament Page 2.