Govt will not dictate tour coverage—P.M.

Press, 29 May 1985, Page 25

Govt will not dictate tour coverage—P.M.

PA Wellington If television and radio sent sports journalists to cover the All Blacks’ games in South Africa, news journalists should go to cover other aspects of the country, the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, has said. Mr Lange told a postCabinet press conference that the Government would not dictate to the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand, but it had “obviously” suggested to the corporation what it should do. “They should ensure that if they believe there is a merit in having coverage of those games in South Africa that they should see that there is coverage of other aspects of South Africa,” said Mr Lange.

“News and current affairs should go there.” But Mr Lange said the corporation would interpret its obligations which were set out by statute. He had been prepared to command the Rugby Union which had no statutory obligation.

“They have to be told,” he said.

He said it would be a matter for the corporation to decide whether television

coverage of matches should go ahead if South Africa allowed in only sports journalists.

Mr Lange also said it was not necessary for New Zealand journalists to go to the country to have a form of coverage. There had been no New Zealand crew at the Bradford soccer stadium fire.

Mr Lange said the statutory requirement for the corporation to have regard for Government policy reflected on the question of tour coverage, but did not necessarily interfere with the right of people to information from South Africa.

“This Government is not

going to pull the plug, or switches or censor things which happen to be inconvenient,” he said. “We do not seek to behave as South Africa does.” Mr Lange expected the Broadcasting Corporation would be interested in obtaining for the first time the right for news and current affairs journalists to enter South Africa, because the country had been “less than forthcoming” in having journalists visit. The Government had not yet communicated formally with the board of the B.C.N.Z. on coverage of the All Blacks’ South African tour, said Mr Lange. The corporation’s board is expected to meet today.