"THE' FRIENDLY ROAD"

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 143, 14 December 1933, Page 10

"THE' FRIENDLY ROAD"

THOUSANDS OF LETTERS

Members of Parliament have been inundated with correspondence urging the reinstatement of the "Friendly Eoad" broadcast'service at Auckland. The Prime Minister alone has received 2620 letters on the subject. In the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. F. Lye (Government, Waikato) asked the Prime Minister to give an indication at an early date as to the policy of the Government in the matter, so as to render unnecessary a continuation of the correspondence, the acknowledgment of which was causing members much concern and work. The Prime Minister (the Bt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said he could appreciate the difficulties of members, but the solution of the problem was not as simple as it appeared. He understood that the "Friendly Eoad" organisation had been offered an opportunity of continuing on the air in conjunction with other church services. This had not been accepted, and the request now was for a separate broadcasting station for this particular organisation. This was a very serious step in broadcasting and one that later on might have far-reach-ing effects, especially when applications came in from other similar organisations. The whole matter was still being considered, with a view to seeing whether a satisfactory arrangement could-be made, and it was hoped to give an indication at an early date. Mr. Forbes expressed regret at the inability of the staff of his office, owing to extreme pressure of work entailed by the Parliamentary session, to undertake the preparation of separate acknowledgments of the letters he had received. He could only ask these correspondents to accept this general acknowledgment of the receipt of their letters. ;