COMMERCIAL RADIO

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 6

COMMERCIAL RADIO

MANY THINGS TO LEARN

"The only conclusion the Opposition can come to is that the Government, in refusing to set up a Royal Commission, is afraid of the consequences, either to itself or to Mr. Scrimgeour/* said Sir Alfred Ransom (National, Pahiatua).

The Opposition, he said, made it clear that there were aspects relative to the appointment of the Controller of Commercial 'Broadcasting and the administration of the service that warranted the expense of an investigation. The Prime Minister had said that he had the greatest confidence in the man appointed to control an important State service, but instead of the Government giving orders the Controller of the commercial radio was declaring and dictating the policy of the Government. The Government had probably not been aware that Mr. McArthur was associated with the company which had secured the New Zealand advertising rights in Australia, but there were many things about commercial broadcasting which; they still had to learn. These things were we'll known by Mr. Scrimgeour. ■ Mr. Savage had declared that he had nothing to cover up, said Sir Alfred. This must mean that he was in sympathy with the Opposition, and all that was asked for was that all the cards should be laid on the table. He saw no • reason why the Government should decline to appoint a Royal Commission, which would dispel any doubts once and for all. ■-