‘Shackles’ put on broadcasting

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 4

‘Shackles’ put on broadcasting

PA

Wellington

Television and radio broadcasting standards would remain high in spite of the cuts announced this week, the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Templeton) told Parliament yesterday.

Although he personally supported an increase in combined television and radio licence fees, which the Cabinet had refused, he realised that broadcasting had to shoulder its share of financial restraint.

The Minister was speaking during a snap debate forced by an Opposition member, Mr R. L. Bailey (Heretaunga), who moved that the House adjourn to discuss the cuts which were a matter of “urgent public importance.” He said the Government was putting ‘shackles” on the Broadcasting Corporation.

The debate came after the announcement by the chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation (Mr lan Cross), of wide-ranging cuts in the extension of radio and television coverage.

He said they were a result of the Government’s decision not to increase licence fees and that reductions in live sports broadcasts, church services, and news bulletins were planned. Opening the debate, Mr Bailey said the cuts were a matter of “grave national importance.” He urged the Government to provide the corporation with the $4.5M required to maintain its original planned programme for the year.

“The Government, in refusing to allow the corporation the economic backing, is abrogating its responsibility,” Mr Bailey said. Cuts in news services would mean that many New Zealanders were deprived of knowledge they had a right to.

“A fully informed populace is a democratic right that should not be denied the people of New Zealand. Any cutback must be strongly opposed.” Mr Bailey said that the stifling of news could be seen as censorship.

It would mean a cutback in analysis and comment on news issues and “smacks of Government management of the news media.” Mr Bailey also criticised the planned cutbacks in live sports and church broadcasts as “paring away the quality of life.” “I appeal to the Government, even at this late stage, to review is policy and give the Broadcasting Corporation the economic assistance it needs,” he said. However, Mr Templeton said that the broadcasting system “has to share in the restraint that is going across the board.

Economic structures were being put on all Government departments. As a result, a slowdown in TV2 and Radio New Zealand coverage could be expected.

But he said he believed the corporation could “manage this year without an increase in fees.”

Mr Templeton described the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra as the “jewel” of the broadcasting system. He assured the House that it would be maintained at its present high standard. Mr C. R. Marshall (Lab., Wanganui): Will the money be paid? Mr Templeton: If the corporation comes to me with a proposal I will take it to Cabinet.

Opposition assertions that the broadcasting cuts represented management of news were “preposterous and ridiculous,” said the Minister of Health (Mr Gair). He believed the corporation had overreacted with its cuts. To ask for a saving of $2.7M from an organisation which had a budget of SIOOM was not a great deal. To save 2.7 c ip the dollar was not an unreasonable request, he said. The Associate Minister of Finance (Mr Quigley) said New Zealand could not afford the broadcasting system it had with its two television channels and numerous radio stations.

He said broadcasting employed 3600 persons, and suggested that Mr Cross look at the redundancy provisions of the State Services Act which said staff could be dispensed with, after three months notice, if there was no job for them anymore. Labour’s spokesman on the arts (Mr E. E. Isbey) accused the Prime Minister of a “phobia against broadcasting” which, he said, he had “paraded up and down -the country.” “The Government wanted broadcasting to be abject, servile, and submissive to its whims and fancies,” Mr Isbey said.