“Looking at Ourselves”

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33066, 6 November 1972, Page 16

“Looking at Ourselves”

Sir, —I thought it could happen! The N.Z.B.C. has cut out “Looking at Ourselves,” which followed the 8.30 news on Saturday night. This was always interesting, as the speaker was free to express his personal view of the week’s happenings. “Point of View” on Sunday night, also interesting and stimulating, was cut out recently. I firmly believe these actions were taken because of the approaching election and, although a supporter of the National Party for over 30 years, I am ashamed of the N.Z.B.C.—Yours, etc., LAST STRAW. October 31, 1972. [The public relations officer of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (Mr Lyell Boyes) replies: “We are pleased that ‘Last Straw’ has found ‘Looking at Ourselves’ always interesting, and hope that he will continue to find it so from December 2 when it will be resumed. The N.Z.B.C. adopted exactly the same procedure on the three Saturdays preceding the 1969 elections. ‘Looking at the Election’ is a mere temporary variation of the parent programme—and one of the speakers, John Kennedy, is indeed a regular contributor to ‘Looking at Ourselves’. ‘Last Straw’ states that ‘Point of View’ was dropped recently. In fact the final programme was broadcast almost eight months ago, on March 12.”]