PARLIAMENT’S WORK

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 291, 4 September 1931, Page 10

PARLIAMENT’S WORK

Broadcasting System

RECEPTION OF BILL Variety of Opinions CAMPS FOR SINGLE MEN (By Our Parliamentary Representative) Most attention during last evening’s sitting of the House of Representatives was given to the Broadcasting Bill, which was introduced by Governor-General’s message, and which gives effect to the Government’s decision to terminate the lease of the present company and place the control of radio broadcasting in the hands of a board of four members. The appearance of the measure had been awaited keenly, in spite of the fact that a brief announcement oy the Postmaster-General some days ago outlined the system to be adopted.

From the reception given the Bill £ is certain that its .passage’ J>e “ark rd by the expression of widely different opinions. The attitude of the House toward a Bill can often be gauged from the anxiety of members to speak upon its appearance, and enough was said last evening to show that the PostmasterGeneral, who is in charge of the “ensure, will have to meet considerable .opposi tion to the proposals. In the first place, speakers were critical of the fact that the four “embers of the new board of control would be appointed by the Government and that there, was apparently no provision for representation of the listeners. It was urged that this was not right, especially in view of the fact that it was the listeners' who maintained the service, by the payment of license fees. One or two Reform speakers questioned the advisability of further commitments being undertaken by the State at the moment, this comment arising through the statement of'the Postmaster-General that the Government would have 'to buy out the present stations at a cost of about £30,000. ... . .. „ ■i An important statement amplifying the announcement of the scheme for the placing of single unemployed men in camps was made by the Minister of Labour, Hon. S. G. Smith. He said that about 20 camps were to be established in every province except Taranaki, and that between 25 and 80 men would be accommodated in each. . Discussing the question of pay, the Minister said the system to be adopted would give each man about 10/- a week above his keep, although some might receive slightly more on the basis of payment on merit. „ , _ , „ The Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill reached the committee stages, creating much interest among Auckland members. The measure. is extremely long, its chief object being to give to a company the right to con-, struct a toll bridge over the Waitemata Harbour. Several local Bills were put through their final stages before the House rose. There will be no sitting to-day, an adjournment until Tuesday evening having been taken to enable the Special Economic Committee to devote as'much time ns possible to its work. It is hoped that the hearing of evidence will be concluded early next week. “PAY AS YOU GO” Upper House Opinions MATSON LINE INVASION After a debate which lasted for a little over two hours, the Imprest Supply Bill (No. 3) was passed by the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. The Hon. J. A. Hanan said that the Government’s future policy should be “Pay as you go.” It would be folly to go on the London market for money at the present time. The people should be thoroughly acquainted with the full facts of the economic and financial situation, and a plan not only for the moment but for the future should be adopted. Unless a bold, sound course were adopted. the country would drift, and the burden on the taxpayer of the future would stultify progress. The Hon. J. B. Gow said that a great deal of legislation referring to the land had been unnecessary. It. was essential to attract the private capitalist toward the land, because he would do more in the way of development than the Government. 'The costs of production were too high. It was essential that the progress of land development should be quickened rather than retarded, , The Hon, Sir James Allen, in referring to the entry of the Matson Shipping Line into the Pacific trade, said there was a grave injustice in the method by which tiie American public had assisted that company by subsidy and other means, to establish a line running between America, New Zealand, and Australia, which was obviously intended to compete with, and if possible destroy, the services operated by Britishers. „ "Internationality is a very fine thing. Sir James said, “but we want fair play. I do uot conceive it is fair play to use the means that were used by America to compete with us. lam not going to suggest retaliation on the part of New Zealand, but I am going to suggest that the proper course for us to take is to represent the case to Britain. I believe that a round-table talk with representatives of America would do much to remove what we believe to be an injustice.” The Hon. D. Buddo said that the land tax was adding unnecessarily to the burdeus of the man on the land. Land tax. in his opinion, should only be employed to prevent monopoly and aggregation. The development of the waste lands was a means which should be adopted to relieve unemployment. The lion. Sir Heaton Rhodes appealed to the Government to take action in.respect of the shipping competition, which, he said, was threatening British trade. In his opinion joint action should be taken by Australia and New Zealand. The Union Steam Ship Company could not compete on the present terms. The object of the United States was to gain complete control of the Pacific. Replying to the debate, the Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey, Lender of the Council, said that the shipping question was at present receiving careful consideration by the Government. He did not propose to comment on the subject other, than to say that the suggestion that representations should be made to the Imperial authorities appealed to him. The Bill was put through all its stages The Judicial Proceedings Regulation of Reports Bill, which was received from the House of Representatives, was read a second time pro formn and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. _ The Council adjourned at 4.00 p.m. until this afternoon, GREYTOWN HOSPITAL South Wairarapa Complaint Attention was drawn by Colonel T. W. McDonald (U., Wairarapa) in the House last evening to the fact that residents of South Wairarapa were deprived of the benefit of their own institution, the Greytown Hospital, and compelled to go to Masterton Hospital for treatment at great inconvenience to themselves and expense to their relatives. He did this in an urgent question addressed to the Minister of Health, Hon. A. J. Stallworthy. He mentioned that another serious accident case had been refused admission to Gre.vtbwn Hospital, and sent to Masterton. nt Inconvenience and pecuniary loss to the patient. The Minister said the matters referred to were being investigated by the Hospital* Department

IDLE SINGLE MEN Details of Camp Scheme TO START NEXT WEEK Explanation, by Minister Fuller details of the scheme for peeing unemployed single men in camps were supplied by the Minister of Labour, Hon S. G. Smith, in a statement he to the House of Representatives last evening. He explained that just over 20 camps had been selected, and that there would be from 25 to 80 men in each. There would be sufficient camps to provide for the 1000 men arranged for with the Main Highways Board. The Minister stated that the men would be selected mainly from the cities and the larger centres in the first place, and that instructions as to the selection were being issued to the centres concerned immediately. It was hoped tna>. some of the camps would begin operations next week.

' Food, Accommodation, Transport.

“The men,” said the Minister, “will be provided with plain food and simple tent accommodation and a certain amount of pocket money, which will average approximately 10/- a man a week, very similar to the basis on which scheme No. 4A. is now operated. The payment, however, will be on the basis of effort; some may' receive a little more than 10/-, while others may not earn quite as much as that amount Tents will have to be shared, probably two in a tent. “Transport of the worker to the camp will be provided, but unless he stays in the camp for a longer period than one month, or if he is dismissed for misconduct or unsatisfactory work before that time, the worker will be required to refund the amount of fares paid before being given further relief. Land Development. “These camps have been arranged with the Main Highways Board for work on secondary highways, as an initial experiment in getting unemployed workers out of the cities on to useful reproductive work in the back country. Should they be operated successfully, it is hoped that developmental work on the land may also be undertaken along similar lines, “Indeed, I may say that one large block in the north of Auckland, which will be cut up into 27 sections, has already been selected for experiment in this way, and a camp Will be established there within a few days. The workers in that camp will be utilised to prepare the necessary access roads to the subdivisions, and will continue developmental work on the sections themselves, should that be found practicable. Some of the workers will no doubt, if they so desire, have the opportunity of participating in the ballot for the selection when the stage for actual settlement has been reached.” Irreparable Moral Damage. The Minister added that the Unemployment Board viewed with some alarm the irreparable moral damage which was done to the single men in the city and towns who were compulsorily idle for four working days out of each of three weeks out of four, and for the whole of the fourth week. “The funds at the disposal of the board " he said, “will not allow of any scheme to provide full-time work which will incur additional expense. Even if the board could find full-time work for all these men in the cities, the class of work being undertaken is such that the country’s,financial position would be made worse rather than improved by any extension. “To divert the labour into more reproductive channels, which all agree is absolutely necessary, cannot be done under the No. 5 scheme at present finding work for the large proportion of the unemployed. The board, after the most careful consideration, is unanimously of the opinion that if the single unemployed worker can be induced to go into camps within easy range of works which are directly or indirectly stimulating production, and be assured of good food every day in the week, and if in addition he can be provided with some pocket money, he will, be far better off, and far happier, than existing under his present conditions in the cities and towns. In addition, the money expended is more likely to return, something to the country. It is in the light ot these considerations that you are asked to consider the scheme. , “The Ideal Thing.” “The ideal thing, of course, is for all our unemployed to be re-absorbed at standard wages in productive work. The.bogrd knows that. It knows also that it is easy to compare this scheme with the ideal to level criticism. We do not want you to take the easy course. We want you to look at the present position of these men —at the country’s position-then let your criticism bennade in a spirit of helpfulness.” . . In conclusion, the Minister stated that camps were to be established in every province except his own province of Taranaki. „ , Mr. W. J. Polson (Ind., Stratford): Why is that? Taranaki is just where we want them. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon): Is the idea to extend them? . The Minister: Yes; this is the initial effort. TWO CATEGORIES • Business and Politics MINISTER STATES VIEWS The respective merits of businessmen and professed politicians was the subject of a brief but interesting exchange in the House last evening when Mr. D. Jones (Ref., Mid-Canterbury) drew the fire of the Postmaster-General, Hon. 1 J. B. Donald. The question was raised during the discussion in committee of the Broadcasting Bill, when Mr. Jones said he was most surprised that the Postmaster-Gen-eral should be the one to be in charge of the measure. Mr. Donald had entered Parliament bitterly opposed to State interference in private enterprise and he seemed to regard the politician as something below the businessman. Mr. Donald : I still do. Mr. Jones: Well, the businessman has our sympathy. Mr. Donald : There are Parliamentarians and politicians, you know. Mr. Jones: One wonders whether the Minister is a businessman or a politician. Mr. Donald: I am not a politician. Mr. Jones changed the subject for the moment, saying he would oppose the Bill on the ground that the board of control would be mainly political. “I make a distinction between Parliamentarians and politicians,” declared Mr. Donald at a later stage. “We have far too many politicians in this country. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) : They are not all in Parliament. The Minister said it was quite true that not all the politicians were in Parliament. “Members can throw off as much as they like about the businessman,” he added, “but it is the businessman that will pull this country through. I know we have some good men in liament, and I hope that the few politicians we have will ‘go west. If the good, solid businessmen stand for Parliament at the election we will see most of them elected.” At this stage the Chairman of ( otnmittees. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (U.. Otago Central) called Mr. Donald back to I lie clauses in the Bill. Mr. D. Jones (Ref., Mid-Canterbury) . He is broadcasting.

RADIO CONTROL New System Defined FOUR BOARD MEMBERS Rights of Listeners The details of the Government’s plan for handing over control of radio broadcasting to a board are contained in the Broadcasting Bill, introduced in the House last evening by Governor-General s message. „ . t The board of four members, all of whom are to be appointed by the Government, will be known as the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, and will become a corporate body. The first chairman will be appointed for five years, subsequent appointments to be made for three years. Of the other members one will hold office for a period not exceeding four years, one for three years, and the remaining member for two years, all members thereafter appointed to hold office for three years. Members may become eligible tor reappointment. ■ Contracts made by the board must be made either under the board’s seal or over the signature of two members, but verbal contracts may be made under usual conditions involving amounts up to £2O. Members may be removed from office by the Governor-General in Council for disability, insolvency, neglect of duty, or misconduct, or for having benefited financially as members of other companies from contracts made by the board. Publication in the "Gazette” is to be sufficient notice of dismissal. Deputy members may be appointed in cases where required. Salaries of Members

The chairman will receive £5OO a year, and the other three members will eacn receive £250 a year. All will receive travelling allowances, all payments to be made from the revenue of the board. The board is empowered to meet when it considers meeting necessary, though when meetings cannot be arranged, telegraphed or written word of all members will suffice. The board* will 'appoint the staff necessary to conduct the national broadcasting service, and also may appoint advisory committees, including district committees to facilitate the conduct ot th<« service. Officers and servants of the board will not in any way become Public Servants. Board’s Functions. The functions of the board, which is to take office on January 1 next, are described as being to carry on and improve the broadcasting service within New Zealand, to obtain licenses under the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928, for the operation of broadcast stations, io enter into agreements with' the Post-mdster-General for payment of portion of the wireless telegraphic fees to the board. The board is also empowered to carry out any subsidiary business which in the opinion l of the Postmaster-General is ancillary to the conduct of the broadcast service. Existing stations, and plant will be taken, over at a price to be fixed by the Postmaster-General. The board will not be permitted to deal in wireless apparatus, and it will be bound not to enter agreements with any but the New Zealand Government. Although the board is not allowed to borrow without the consent of the Post-master-General, it may secure advances from the Government to enable it to overcome preliminary expenses until its revenue is established. An annual report is to. be presented to Parliament, and tlie Postmaster-General is given authority to approve the manner in which the board’s surplus funds are invested. Not State Department. In giving a brief outline of the provisions of the Bill, the Postmaster-Gener-al, Hon. J. B. Donald, said the measure contained authority for the setting up of a board to control broadcasting, Mr. H. M. Campbell (Ref., Hawke’s Bay): Will there be any members of Parliament? Mr. Donald: No. this is not a State department. It will be run by a board outside the State altogether. Mr. W. L. Martin (Lab., Raglan): Can you let us have the names of the members of the board? Mr. Donald said he could not give the information. He had already had applications for positions on the board from about 200 people. So far no one had been appointed. Mr. Martin: Is it true that provision has been made for two superannuated Public Servants? Mr. Donald; I do not know of it. Mr. E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) : You do not know anything, then. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Lab., Auckland Suburbs) : How many members? Mr. Donald: Four, but there are no members of Parliament. (Cries of “Ohl”) Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon) : You want business men, eh? Mr. Donald said the board would carry on the work of the present company, and he hoped it would do better than the company. Mr. F. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino) : How much will it cost? Mr. Donald: It is anticipated it will cost, about £30,000. Mr. Sullivan.: Do you intend to buy out the existing stations? Mr. Donald: Yes, the present stations will have to be bought out. He added that the total annual payments to the board members would be £1350. Time Not Opportune. Mr. H. M. Campbell (Ref., - Hawke’s Bay) said he wanted to enter an emphatic protest against the whole proposal. Mr. G. C. Munns (U.. Roskill): Of course, you would. Mr. Campbell said the Government was proposing to take a most serious step. At the present moment the Special Economic Committee was searching for ways and means to rehabilitate the country and to save expense, and in face of this the Government was bringing down proposals for the annual expenditure of £1350, apart from other expenses that would be incurred if the scheme _ were carried to a conclusion. In addition, it would spend £30,000 on the purchase of the present system. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) : There is money in it for the country. Mr. Campbell said he wanted to state quite definitely that the present was not the time for the Government to go in for fresh enterprises. There were too many State activities. The Government .was struggling along in an attempt to make both ends meet, and yet it proposed to make a n.ew outlay of about £40,000. Listeners Not Represented. Mr. Howard said he also wanted to protest against the Bill, but his criticism was from a different angle. He found fault with the manner in which the board was to be set up. At the present time there were dairy, meat, honey, fruit, highways,' and other hoards, and their membership was drawn from those interested in the questions to be dealt with, yet it was proposed to set up a broadcasting board without giving any representation to the listeners, in spite of the fact that, they were the ones who were vitally concerned. The listeners owned the radio broadcasting service and they maintained it through the payment of fees. The State would not find one penny for the system. The people who paid the fees were the ones who would have to buy the present stations and’ pay for the whole of the equipment that might be needed for future expansion, but they would not have a voice in the deliberations of the board. The Government would be handing over full control to four persons, and it would leave those who were, paying for the system out of all consideration. “I want to protest on behalf of (>O.OOO listeners who pay 30/- a year for the privilege of running the breadcasting business.” Mr. Howard added. Mr. A. E. Ansell (Ref., Chalmers) cntic -irs wcro entitled

to representation on the board, but so far the House had no Indication that they would have a voice at all. Prime Minister Confident

The Prime Minister, Rt Hon. G. W. Forbes, said Mr. Howard had worked himself up, but he asked him to possess his soul in patience until he bad seen what was proposed in the Bill. He felt that* when members knew what was proposed they would welcome the Government's scheme, and he felt sure that listeners would agree that a step in the right direction had been taken. He felt confident that the system would be improved as a result of the steps proposed. The system would be based on the 8.8. C.. which had proved entirely satisfactory. It was acknowledged that there would always be complaints about the quality of music, but after all that depended upon one’s set and upon one’s views about music. In the past the boards set up by the present Government had been the best that could be got, and there would be no exception in the present instance. Mr. F. Waite (Ref., Clutha) : Are you making arrangements for the broadcast of our debates? The Prime Minister: Well, I hqpe not for the sake of those who are listeningin. Consideration Necessary. The Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said it was questionable whether the Government was justified in taking on further responsibilities at the moment. They knew that the outlook was not good, and under the present conditions he would ask the Government to give very careful consideration to any proposal that would involve the expenditure of money. It was all very well to say that the listeners were paying, but the moment the change-over was made, an immediate improvement ip the system would be demanded, and there would be widespread disappointment if the changes were not made. This would involve more expenditure, and Mr. Coates said he was inclined to think that the question was one warranting very careful consideration at a time when the country was trying to conserve every available penny. Everyone was anxious that the listeners should have the most up-to-date programmes possible, but that meant money, and he doubted whether the present facilities offered by the company were very materially. different from those that would be provided in the future. Mr. Waite said the House should consider very carefully whether the Government should be given the control of vet another of the public's entertainments. One felt impelled to ask when the Government was going to stop taking over the control of social activities. Mr. J. A. Nash (Ref., Palmerston North) agreed that the listeners should have representation on the board. Hopes for Revenue The Minister said that although times were bad there were more listeners today than ever. That showed that there need be no fear that the revenue would go down. Mr. J. A. Nash 1 It should increase. The Minister said that more and more people were getting to know the value of wireless. There were many people who could not afford to go to the theatre, but were able to pay the 30/- license fee and receive broadcast entertainment as well as the news of the day. He was satisfied that before long there would be 100,000 listeners. Referring to the board, the Minister said that if he held his present office when it was appointed he was quite satisfied that {he listeners would have their say. Mr. Howard: What do you mean by that? The Minister said that listeners would be appointed. He had no one *n mind for appointment to the board and resented the suggestion that two had already been nominated. "There will be no political appointments,” declared Mr. Donald. Mr. M. J. Savage (Lab., Auckland West) said the Government should take complete control of the broadcasting service, which should be part and parcel of the Post and Telegraph service. The opinion that the Government would be well advised to keep out of the service was expressed by Mr. R. A. Wright (Ref.,.Wellington Suburbs). The Bill was read a first time. DRAINAGE RATES System of Levy ACREAGE BASIS URGED An important point was raised by Mr. J. A. Young (Ref., Hamilton), when the South Wairarapa River Board Empowering Bill was before the House last evening. He expressed the opinion that the time had arrived when power should be given to all drainage and river boards to rate on an acreage basis if this were desired. The question was brought up by Mr. Young when the House was considering the clause in the Bill which provides that all rates of the river board shall be levied on an acreage basis. Mr. Young said it was unfair, especially in the case of suburban lands within a drainage district, when there was a subdivision into building sections, that it should be compulsory to pay drainage rates on the value, of the buildings instead of on the value of the lands receiving the benefit of the drainage works. This was the ride in drainage areas such as those close to .Hamilton and which were situated within county districts which rated upon capital value. It would not be so difficult if the rating were on unimproved value, but to levy drainage rates upon the value of a man's residence was far from fair. . Unless empowered by special local legislation, drainage districts were required to rate on the same basis as that adopted by the county council. , , Mr. Young urged that the general law governing the rating powers of drainage and river boards should be amended so as to give the option of determining the basis of rating for drainage purposes to the local boards. WAIRARAPA BILLS Local Measures Passed Two local Bills of interest to the Wairarapa—the Cameron and Soldiers’ Memorial Park' (Masterton) Trustees Empowering Bill and the South Wairarapa River Board Empowering Bill—were passed by the House without amendment last evening. The first-named measure extends , the leasing powers of the trustees of the Cameron and Soldiers’ Memorial Park at Masterton, and the latter Bill relates to the carrying out of river protection works by the South Wairarapa River Board. The Memorial Park Bill was piloted through the House by Mr. G. It. Sykes (Ref.,' Masterton), and the River Board Empowering Bill by Colonel W. T. McDonald (U., Wairarapa).