NEWSPAPERS & RADIO

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 217, 10 June 1936, Page 10

NEWSPAPERS & RADIO

No Arrangement With Late Government DENIAL OF SUGGESTION A suggestion by the Rev, C. L. Carr (Government, Timaru) that there bad been an arrangement between the newspapers and the last Government was denied in the House of Representafives yesterday by the PostmasterGeneral, Hon. F. Jones. In an urgent question, Mr. Carr asked whether station IZM, Manurewa, owned by New Zealand Newspapers Limited, had had its power increased above 100 watts by the previous Government and, if so, was this a contravention of the regulations then in force and a breach of faith with other B stations. Mr. Carr also asked whether the last Government, when prohibiting advertising over the air, was given a quid pro quo by the newspaper press that Continental and American shortwave information would not be published. “In reply to the first part of the question,” said Mr. JoneSj "my inquiries show that in March, 1931, the licensee of IZAI was given authority to increase the power of his station from 10 watts output to 50 watts. However, this authority was not availed of until March, 1934.

"In regard to the second part of the question, no undertaking has ever been given by the newspapers that in return for the prohibition of advertising by radio they would refrain from copying and publishing news matter broadcast by overseas shortwave stations. The publication of such matter is specifically prohibited •in the radio regulations. It will be apparent that if newspapers were granted permission to insert news picked up from the air it would interfere seriously with our cable communications.”

Mr. AV. J. Polson (Opposition, Stratford) : Another mare's nest, Mr. Carr: Sez you!