RADIO "NEWS-REEL"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 110, 5 November 1937, Page 8

RADIO "NEWS-REEL"

OPPOSITION'S REQUEST

BALANCE OF VIEWS DESIRED

The Government's radio "news-reel" was the subject of some comment by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) in the House of Representatives this morning, when the Prime Minister's Department vote was under discussion. Mr. Broadfoot asked if it could be broadcast at some other time in the evening. "We get it at meal times," he said, "and we like pleasant things with our meals. . I suggest that the record should be placed on the table of the House each morning so that ! one can put a little on the other side, ito give it a sort of balance, because at I the present time it is propaganda, not news. The Prime Minister says he :is a fair man; let us put the other side on the record. It is public money that is being spent, and there are always two sides to a question. It would be only fair to the Opposition to have a little discussion on the 'news-reel' of the previous evening." The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M J. Savage): We haven't a "newsreel." I suggest that the honourable member should listen in; it will do him good. ..,.■«' In reply to a point raised by thej Leader of the Opposition (the Hon.j Adam Hamilton), Mr. Savage said that he saw everything that went over the Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (National, Riccarton) drew attention to the fact that the Prime Minister employed a journalist of high repute for this work. Was there no one in the Public Service who could have taken the position? He understood that positions were usually advertised under . the Public Service Commissioners. "I believe the Prime Minister has made an excellent selection," said Mr. Kyle, "but at the same time there might have been someone equal in the Public Service. The vote was passed.