COMMUNITY SINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 11

COMMUNITY SINGS

ADVERTISING BAN

REASON FOR RESTRICTION

"There must be a distinct understanding regarding the type of message that can be sent over the air," said the Acting Minister in Charge of Broadcasting (the Hon. F. Jones), when replying today to criticism made by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) and others of the rule introduced by the National Broadcasting Service prohibiting the announcement at community sings of the names ox firms making donations or sending along goods for auction when sings were being broadcast.

Mr. Jones said that there had been a certain amount of abuse in the different centres in regard to business people getting what amounted to cheap advertisements over the National Broadcasting Service by the announcements made at community sings. Complaints had been received from other firms against the practice, and the authorities h'atf been trying to put the position on a proper basis. If there was any injustice or hardship as a result of the restriction, which was not a new one, the cases would be investigated.

One of the difficulties was that some firms, because their names were not mentioned over the air, refused to assist further. "That seems to me to confirm the idea that some of the firms had been making donations for the sake of getting an advertisement," said the Minister. "That applies possibly to only a few of the firms.. A lot of them will give donations irrespective of whether or not their names are mentioned, but we have had cases where it looks as if donations are given just for the purpose of getting cheap advertisements."

, It was mainly a question of abuse having taken place, the Minister continued, and they had been trying to lay down a rule which they thought would avoid that, while at the same time keeping clear of injustice or hardship. If the motive in making donations was purely to assist the cause for which the community sings were being run, that was all right, but when firms refused to assist because their names were withheld it seemed clear that they were more concerned with cheap advertisement than anything else, and the position had to be clarified.

No complaint whatsoever had been received from the Commercial Broadcasting Service against the practice, the Minister added. '