TV admits imbalance in ‘Eye-Witness’

Press, 19 November 1981, Page 2

TV admits imbalance in ‘Eye-Witness’

PA Wellington Television New Zealand admitted yesterday that Tuesday’s "Eye-Witness" programme on’ the education policy of the three main political parties was imbah anced. The director-general of TVNZ. Mr A. W. Martin, said that the programme had not presented a full range of views of the three main parties and should not have been transmitted in that form. Efforts had been made to bring together representatives of the three parties for a studio discussion in “Eye-

Witness" this evening for further elaboration on their education policies but these efforts so far had been unsuccessful. Mr Martin said that Tuesday’s “Eye-Witness" programme should be considered in isolation from other "Eye-Witness" programmes. He was satisfied that the performance of television’s news and current affairs section in covering the General Election campaign so far would stand up to. the closest, scrutiny. The ’Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) said in New Plymouth yesterday that Tues-

day's programme had been more akin to a paid Labour Party commercial. He said. "Mr Wellington (the Minister of Education) was asked by the 'Eye-Wit-ness' people to be interviewed on training college intakes but they interviewed him on topics covering the whole range of education and cut the interview." The’ interview had been cut to highlight Labour's point of view. "This sort of thing has got to stop. I do not want any more of it.” Mr Muldoon said.