BROADCASTING ADVISORS

Evening Star, Issue 22362, 11 June 1936, Page 16

BROADCASTING ADVISORS

WON'T BE “ POLITICAL DERELICTS" MINISTER AND MR COATES CROSS SWORDS [From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, June 10. The action of Mr Coates in moving nf'the House an amendment to clause 3 of the Broadcasting Bill to provide for the representation of listeners on a new broadcasting corporation was described by the Minister of Railways (Mr Sullivan) as “ unadulterated and unmitigated humbug.” Mr Coates’s amendment was that the existing board be replaced by a broadcasting corporation consisting of a Minister, three representatives of the listeners, and two members appointed by tbo GovernorGeneral. The amendment, said Mr Sullivan, was moved purely tor political purposes. Did Mr Coates think the listeners would be deceived by tactics of that kind? he asked. The first question that would arise would bo, why did not the member for Kaipara give the listeners representation when he had the power to do-so? “ Will you answer one question?” Mr Coates asked, “ No, I’m going to do the talking,” rejoined Mr Sullivan. Ho referred to Mr Coates’s amendment as_ raiserabje hypocrisy. Tho Bill, ho said, left it absolutely open how the advisory council was constituted. It was open to the Minister to appoint listeners. Under the Bill the Minister was given power |o appoint a committee of five, whose whole ofbject would be to study the welfare of tho listeners. “ They won’t bo political derelicts who served tho interests of the Reform Party,” Mr Sullivan declared. “ They won’t be political appointments. They will not be appointed for the purpose of rewarding political friends, but will be appointed because of their experience, knowledge, and capacity for serving the interests of the listeners. That is the whole object of the clause.” Mr Sullivan added that Mr Coates got a lot of fun out of his amendment. Mr Coates: No; no. “ I know the right hou. gentleman gets a Jot of fun out of politics, but for him to get up now and move an • amendment to give the listeners representation is too funny for words,” Mr Sullivan concluded. Mr Broadfoot (National, Waitomo) said that the Minister of Railways was well off the rails. He recalled having heard Mr Sullivan pleading with tears running down into his boots for the listeners to be represented. At this stage there was an interjection by Mr Lyon (Government, VVaitemata), and Mr Broadfoot remarked amidst laughter. “ There’s the lion roaring again.” ■ “The lion’s roar at the mouse,” interposed the Hon; R. Semple to the accompaniment of further laughter. Mr Broadfoot said that the object ot the Opposition was to make it a better Bill. He thought they could agree to clause 2 and rub the other clauses out. Mr Coates’s amendment was negatived on the division by 43 votes to 48, ' • Speaking to the clause, Mr Hamilton (National, Wallace) said the Opposition wanted the Government to do what it had' been advocating all along. Now that the Government had the opportunity of doing it, the Minister of Railways was just as big a humbug as anybody.