USE OF THE AIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 14

USE OF THE AIR

DAIRY INDUSTRY

FACILITIES TO BE SOUGHT

FACTS FOR CITIES

Permission for representatives approved by the New Zealand Dairy Board, in conjunction with the National Dairy Conference, to have reasonable access to the National Broadcasting Service for the purpose of placing before the people of New Zealand the present problems and difficulties of the dairy farmers is to be sought from tne Government. A remit to this effect brought 'forward by the^ South Auckland Dairy Association was carried unanimously at the. Dominion dairy conference today.

' In moving the remit, Mr. W. Harbult said that the radio was becoming more and more a factor in the lives of tha people. It was necessary for all sections of the community to know what was happening throughout the country.and for those in the cities to appreciate the difficulties under which the farming community was labouring. It would be better for the Dominion as a whole if the workers were more in sympathy with the farmers through knowledge of their problems.

Mr. A. J. Sinclair, who seconded the remit, said that the unfair mariner in which the Government was mohopolis. ing the air at present was causing great dissatisfaction among the farmers of New Zealand. 'They had heard the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W, Nash) putting the Government's; case in connection with the various prdolems of the primary producers, • arid many farmers felt that their point of view' was being entirely ignored and that they had an equal Vight with th'i Government to' let the people of the cities know the reasons for their present dissatisfaction. "GREAT BITTERNESS." ' "Round about the Waikato especially there is a feeling of great bitterness in regard to the Commercial Broadcasting: Service because .of the manner in which political propaganda is being.put forward under the guise of religion," declared IVIr. Sinclair. (Voices: Hear,, hear.) - v ..,-.'.. ■. ' -\.]-;. --: 1,;, ..;.;.;■■■ '%'■ "Many farmers in my district have asked that we should strongly support, any reasonable attempt that may os made to get facilities from the Government to put fprward a fair and un- ; biased view of the farmers' problems. We believe that such a statement could, be made fairly; without giving offence to any party or. any Government,,and that it need not enter into the political aspect of the question at all.'Furthermore, the Government has the power of censorship and any statement to; be made over the air has to be submitted for censorship. ; We will be prepared to accept that responsibility." Mr. H. E. Blyde said that if permission to broadcast were; granted interested parties might put;:up/,;;v'numerous' speakers to knock down the case presented on behalf of the industry.^ Unless the statement; was an effective one iit would not ;help;the industry.' "If exchange was at its natural level, there would be no deficit in the p»hT Account," he added, "and people in the cities do riot appreciate thai fact." Mr. E. R. Bird said that nbthirig short of a fair chance of dealing with thewide question of farming economy would be of ahy use to the "industry. >• ■ The remit was without iit&H. !ther diseussibn; r ; ■ ;-;;; '^"vP^:£&