JAMMING OF FRIENDLY ROAD STATION
Ex-Minister Explains Circumstances
Reference to the jamming of the Friendly Road radio station at Auckland during the general election campaign was made by the former Postmaster-General, Hon. A. Hamilton (Opposition, AVallace), when speaking in the second reading debate on the Broadcasting Bill in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. Hamilton explained that his instructions were that if the station broke the regulations it was to be put off the air by the cancellaion of its license, but this course had not been followed by an inspector, who had adopted his own methods of dealing witli the situation. Mr. Hamilton said he was quite in accord witli tlie Friendly Road service, which he thought possessed one of the most high-powered B stations in New Zealand. The station was given a special license and allowed 28 hours of broadcasting a week, a privilege that no-other B station enjoyed. The Friendly Road also had the right to appeal over the air for funds to finance the station, and this was allowed on conditions the accounts were submitted for audit. The station commenced to break the regulations, and although it was warned it took no heed. On an occasion previous to the one under notice iT’was closed down for quite a few days. "I anticipated there might be trouble during the election campaign,” said Mr. Hamilton, "and gave instructions that if the station broadcast material of a political nature it was to be stopped. My instructions were that if the station broke the regulations badly it was. to be told its license was cancelled and it was off the air.” The Minister of Transport, Hou. R. Semple: AVhy did you not do it above board ?
Mr. Hamilton: An inspecting officer was asked to take notes if there were any bad breaches of the regulations, and if there were to go round next morning and inform the station it was off the air. This officer adopted his own methods of dealing with the situation and jammed the station.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19360610.2.108
Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 217, 10 June 1936, Page 10
Word Count
339JAMMING OF FRIENDLY ROAD STATION Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 217, 10 June 1936, Page 10
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