Radio puts off programmes on contraception

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 2

Radio puts off programmes on contraception

PA Wellington, Radio New Zealand has postponed an educational series on conception con-; traception because legisla- ■ tion on the subject is before Parliament. The service’s standingi committee — its top deci-' sion-making body — has advised the continuing education unit that the broadcasts' must be delayed until the bill has been dealt with. The series would have started in about six weeks. , A member of the committee of four, Mr C. J. Freeman, of Auckland, said the series was badly timed. "We felt it was effectivelyi sub judice at the moment while there is a bill before the House.” he said. He agreed that programmes were often broadcast on subjects before Parliament, but said con-; 1 traception was in a different; category.• “This subject is such a controversial one. It’s not a party political one. but a re-; 1 ligious and ethical one. We ; felt it was not a judicious time to broadcast on it. "There are plenty of other subjects for the unit to go ! on with anyway.” The unit had planned 15 ' programmes on the commu- ! nity stations and 10 on the I National Programme, all toll

be broadcast late in October. I The programmes were to cover topics including types of contraception, sterilisa- : tion, infertility, communication between couples, and coping with peer-group pressures for the young. The unit's executive' producer (Mr P. Craddock), said that the postponement! had come at the last minute. 1 The series had been! planned and researched ini detail and its producer, Gil-, lian Woodward, had already, begun taping. A shipment of 15,000 ; comics entitled “Too Great a Risk” was already on the! !way from Britain’s Family Planning Association. The standing committee ! had ordered that the comics! were not to be associated in any way with Radio New I Zealand even if the pro-! grammes went ahead later,! said Mr Craddock. I The unit had heard of the! comic stri_> while research-i ing the series and the Brit-! iish body had agreed to supply them free, he said. “We thought they were an: i ideal accompaniment.” ! After the order had been; placed, the unit had heard! that the Department of Education had imported copies some years ago as part of a pilot scheme on con- 1 traception education.