Protest at radio delay

Press, 30 August 1977, Page 19

Protest at radio delay

Urgent legislation is being sought to overcome legal wrangling that is delaying the hearing of new radio warrant applications in Auckland and Christchurch.

Representations have been made to the Minister of Broadcasting by the Canterbury Broadcasting Company and Radio Manukau, two applicants scheduled to have their cases heard by the Broadcasting Tribunal. The hearing of Radio Manukau’s application was to have started in Auckland last week, but a restraining injunction has suspended the proceedings until a legal argument over their validity is settled in the Supreme Court. This has delayed the hearing in Christchurch of the Canterbury Broadcasting Company’s case for a warrant, and the managing director (Mr Rob McKay) says this is inconvenient and expensive. It now appeared tha‘ if the matter did not go to appeal, the hearing of Radio Manukau's application would begin in midSeptember, and the Christchurch hearing might start at the end of October.

Mr McKay said the hearings would be expedited if the Minister of Broadcasting acted quickly to have simple legislation passed to give effect to the intention of the Broadcasting Act. The argument was merely a legal quibble over whether the tribunal had the power to issue rules for the filing of applications. His company was faced with extending its option on commercial space, which would cost a total of about $lOOO, and research would also have to be brought up to date. Possibly the most serious factor was the effect of inflation on the cost of imported equipment.

“However, I believe the Minister will move on legislation, possibly within the next week or two,” he said. ,