BROADCAST DEBATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 15, 17 July 1937, Page 10

BROADCAST DEBATE

MR. LYONS STATEMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, July 16.

A reply to statements made by Mr. F. W. Doidge concerning the projected broadcast debate between him and Mr. W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, i\vas made by Mr. Lyon.

"The question of a debate between Mr. Doidge and myself arose as a result of a meeting of the People's University Association, at which Mr. Doidge was speaker. In view of the hostility shown, I approached Mr. Doidge and offered to debate any political issue with him at any meeting ho cared to designate. He promised to thvink the matter over. On the following day he rang me and suggested IY,A as a medium. I then rang the stallion director, who informed me that approval was necessary from the Director of Broadcasting (Professor Shelley V. I wired the professor and the Actling Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Frar.er) to secure permission from the former for the station to be used and to receive approval from the Minister for :my personal participation. Professor Shelley replied that the whole question of debates over the air was under consideration, and he could not give permission until the matter was completed. Mr. Fraser replied to the effect that the matter had been referred through the Acting Minister in Chargie of Broadcasting to Professor Shellejy with the same result.

"Mr. Doidge's statement that the debate oould have taken place before this Government took office is too ridiculous. He must know that under the Broadcasting Board any critical reference to the Government was excised from mamuscript, and if it was subsequently mentioned by the speaker he was immediately cut off. Perhaps he has also heard that station IZB was officially jammed (see the admission of the Hcin. A. Hamilton). Meantime my original offer holds good. I am prepared to debate with Mr. Doidge publicly in any hall and before, any audience liie specifies. He can choose his own political subject and name his own conditions."