TV censorship

Press, 4 September 1982, Page 14

TV censorship

Sir,—Larry Ross is not alone in his experience with TVNZ in Christchurch. It is now rare , for Values to bother giving information to TV news. TVNZ has created a schizophrenic division for itself: political news is made only in Wellington; local coverage is restricted to “human interest” and “neighbourhood” issues. This ghastly centralisation can only increase the alienation and helplessness with which most New Zealanders view our political system. By contrast I have always been impressed by the fairness and efficiency of the Radio Avon news team. I personally am reluctantly concluding that while TVNZ is not being permitted to serve New Zealanders properly we would be better off with some local private competition.—Yours, etc ALAN WILKINSON, T padpr N.Z. Values Party. September 2, 1982. Sir,—l write to commend your critic, Ken Strongman, for his sane article (“The Press,” August 24) on TV censorship. “Brideshead Revisited” has been acclaimed internationally as the finest TV drama series ever made and it has been shown, uncut, in the United Kingdom (twice), Canada, the United States and Australia. Only in New Zealand has anyone seen fit to tamper with it Does Mr Fabian think we are a race of juveniles who need

constant protection from anything that might influence us? Thank goodness he cannot prevent us from reading the whole of Evelyn Waugh’s book on which the series was based.— Yours, etc.,

G. D. BEATTIE. Auckland. August 27. 1982.

Sir, - When Mr Fabian removed the explicit sex scene from “Brideshead Revisited," he in no way altered Waugh's novel. Waugh was a good writer who understood people only too well, and at no time in his writings needed to spell out what he meant. Nowadays in our materialistic world boredom reigns and script writers know how to raise the ratings and fill their own pockets. — Yours, etc.,

P. G. H. WYNNWILLIAMS. September 2. 1982.