THE WRONG MOMENT

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

THE WRONG MOMENT

RADIO FAULT OCCURS

INCIDENT IN HOUSE

MR. SAVAGE INTERRUPTED

The broadcasting apparatus used in transmitting speeches from the House of Representatives chose an awkward moment to go wrong last night. During the speech of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage)—it was all about broadcasting too, curiously enough—the transmitter developed a fault and a humming noise became apparent. The Postmaster-General subsequently explained the technical side of the happening, which very nearly precipitated an incident on the floor of the House. The matter was referred to by Mr. A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill), who followed the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (National, Hurunui). Mr. Richards said that when the Prime Minister was speaking a fault developed in the broadcasting equipment, and transmission was transferred to another station—2YC. It was significant that as soon as the Prime Minister had finished the humming noise ceased, and Mr. Forbes had the advantage of clear radio transmission. He would leave the Opposition to draw their own conclusions about the cause of the disturbance. Mr. Forbes: Thanks. I must have done it! (Laughter.) The Leade* of the Opposition (the Hon. Adam Hamilton): The charge has been made that someone has been interfering from this side of the House. What is the Prime Minister going to do about it? It is a very serious charge. We do not know anything about it. We might get the blame for it. The Prime Minister should clear the matr ter up right away. Mr. Speaker pointed out that the member for Roskill had not made any charge against the Opposition, or any member of it, and he was afraid the matter could not be dealt with at that stage. ' ■ Mr. Richards said he did not make the statement that "interference came from the House or that it came from the Opposition. "I made no charges against anyone whatever," he said. "I merely stated a fact that had been reported to the Prime Minister and to me that a fault developed in the transmitter and that a humming noise was set up during the whole time the Prime Minister was speaking. I made no charges in regard to it and made no reference to this House." MINISTER EXPLAINS. After Mr. Richards had resumed his seat the Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones) rose and asked for leave to make a Ministerial statement regarding the interference with the radio broadcast. He had received information, he said, that at'B.l7 pjn., while the Prime Minister was speaking, a fault had developed at Titahi Bay, At 8.20 an announcement had been made from 2YA that a fault had developed in the transmitter, but the station would remain on the air while the Prime Minister was speaking. At 8.22 a fuse blew out and the station ceased to function. The broadcast was immediately transferred to 2YC and atf.8.45 2YA resumed while Mr. Forbes was speaking. "So far as I can see," said Mr. Jones, "no blame is attachable to, anyone, and I feel sure that members of the Opposition will never be accused of interfering with a radio broadcast again." Mr. J. Hargest (National, Awarua) asked if he could speak to the point of order. The Speaker said that a point of order had not been raised. The Minister had asked leave to make a Ministerial statement and leave had been granted by the House. Mr. C. Carr (Government, Timaru) asked if he could address a question to the Minister, but the Speaker said there did not appear to be any reason why the Minister's statement should be elaborated. The Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom (National, Pahiatua), who was the next speaker, said that it might be inferred from'the remarks of the member for Roskill that the Opposition was in some way responsible for the interruption in the broadcast, but he was sure that the Postmaster-General had no intention of imputing any such motive. Although the obstruction was apparent in Wellington, he added, it appeared that it was purely local, as he had received a telegram from Palmerston North to say that the reception of the Prime Minister's speech was perfect there. ' ■'■. '•■■■-■ ■ '