PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE SITS TILL DAYLIGHT CONTROVERSIAL BROADCASTING i BILL DIVIDED AUTHORITY—THE SCRIMGEDUR APPOINTMENT [Pea United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November' 4. : The House met at 3.30 p.m. , Mr Hultquist gave notice to ask the Minister of Labour if .it is'his' intention to introduce, a universal Saturday half-holiday throughout- the Dominion: Eight days leave of absence was granted to Mr Poison on ■ account of illness. .' . On the motion of the Prime 'Minis, ter, urgency . was granted ' the passing of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill; After it had been opposed by-the Om position and forced to. a division,' the motion for urgency ’ was carried -by 47-15. , - : , ' ; Mr Carr, proceeding with his second reading speech, which had -been , interrupted by the adjournment- last 'night, said that both the commercial and the national services had a distinct and separate function - and to a certain extent a distinct public to cater for. He congratulated Mr on his transparent honesty in admitting i the ultimate responsibility of Mr Hamilton for the jamming of - the .Friendly- Hoad station. All of the veiled insinuations made concerning the controller of Commercial Broadcasting, said Mr Carr, had been searchihgly investigated, and the controller had come out ofrit-with flying colours. Even his private papers had .been investigated, and demonstrated that there >was no truth in the innuendo's. '. : Mr Endean held that the setting-up of two controlling officers for broad, casting created extra expense, as well as inefficiency and a clashing of the services. If the arrangements made by _ the Prime Minister with Mr Scrjmgeour had been carried out, Mr Scrimgeour would have been receiving £10,500.

Mr Savage: That arrangement has not been carried out., It was stopped at the reverend gentleman’s, own request.

Mr Endean continued that public opinion had been aroused over the matter of this high salary, arid he stated that, as well as Mr Serimgeour, whose salary was £1,500, the sales manager of the commercial service received £1.500, and the Director of Broadcasting also received £1,500. Speaking of the jamming of the

(Road, station, ho, suggested that there might hayo been a “frame up ” between certain departmental officers and the principal of the Friendly Road station. He said if the Government set up a Royal Commission, headed by a Supreme Court judge, ,to inquire into the jamming, and that judge. found’ that the Leader of the Opposition, who was then Minister in charge of Broadcasting, had ordered the- jamming, Mr Endean would give £SO: to a charity. Mr Lee; Why.did he accept responsibility?, - ,Mr Endean: (Because ho is a generous man.. . Mr Endean attacked some .of the broadcasts by Mr Scrimgeour, which he characterised as unsuitable for being put over the air. Ho also criticised the method of letting the radio advertising rights for New Zealand in Australia, and stated that the Government had pursued its socialistic policy, of eliminating private enterprise by wiping out the B stations. UNWARRANTED TACTICS. ■ The Prime Minister, Mr Savage, said that during the 18 years he had been in Parliament, he: had never known such tactics as had been adopted by the opposition against Mr Scrimgeour. They could say whatever they liked about.him (Mr Savage), for he had the right of reply, but such did not apply in the - case of an individual outside, . the. House. Mr Scrimgeour had been appointed on his (Mr Savage’s) recommendation, and he had no apology to make for the appointment, because Mr Scrimgeour happened to be the only man with thorough, knowledge ' of- commercial broadcasting. Mr Savage continued to defend Mr Scrimgeour and Mr Stannage. With reference to attacks on the former, he was of opinion that the reason for such hostility was because Mr Scrimgeour .was director of a , service which- was striking at certain • vested interests. •Those interests had fought when commercial broadcasting had first been mentioned in the House, and the newspapers were fighting how. Let them go on fighting. He did not mind_ that. Mr Savage expressed the opinion that the radio listener was getting more for his-2Ss now than he had over received before. Radio licenses had increased by 118,000 since the Labour Government came into two years ago, and the service was in better condition than it had ever been. PERFECT CONFIDENCE. The Opposition _ had also raised the question of sectarianism over the radio. For heaven’s sake let them be men and leave sectarianism out of it. Mr Savage stated that he would not mind putting Mr Scrimgeour on the platform with any member of the Opposition, and he would wipe the floor with them. Mr Scrimgeour had come out of the investigations into the innuendos against him with flying colours, and he (Mr Savage) had the greatest confidence, in him. Sir A, .Ransom: .Have you confidence in M'Arbhur? _Mr Savage: No. M’Arthur’s activities will be examined very closely. .The Prime Minister went on to speak of . the co-operative spirit existing in Cabinet, and outlined how other M:nisters had assisted him in his duties, instancing the fact that the Minister of Lands was administering Native affaire for him. He outlined the procedure adopted in connection with the appointment of the Director of Broadcasting and his present position, and said the appointment of a controller of the commercial service had been an entirely , different matter altogether. The Government already had the man they wanted, and it was unnecessary to call for applications in the latter case.

Mr Savage said the commercial stations were not there for the purpose of political propaganda, but for a commercial service, and he said there might be a possibility in the future of reducing the 25s license fee. NO ACCUSATION. Mr Richards said that while the Prime Minister had been speaking just a few minutes previously a fault had developed in the broadcast, a humming sound.was developed over the radio and the broadcast was transferred to 2YC. As soon as the Prime Minister bad ceased speaking the noise had ceased and the ex-Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) had the advantage of clear transmission. Mr Forbes: I must have fixed it (laughter). The Leader of the Opposition rose to a point of order, and asked what the Minister intended to do about investigating the fault which had developed. He contended that Mr Richards had practically made ah accusation against the Opposition that someone had interfered with the broadcast. The Opposition knew, nothing about it, but they wanted to have the matter cleared up, and_ he asked the Prime Minister that this should be done. The Speaker: “I do not think the honourable member has made a charge against any member of the House.’’ He proceeded to say that an investigation could not be made into the matter at that stage. Mr Richards; I did not make the statement that the interference came from any member of this House or any member of the Opposition. I made no charges against anyone whatever. I merely stated the fact as it had been reported to the Prime Minister, and me. It was merely a statement of fact that the incident had occurred, and was made in all good faith. Continuing his address, ho stated that the Press of the country enjoyed a very strong position with regard* to the charging of high advertising rates, and they were afraid, and rightly so, of the commercial radio service, in which advertisers had demonstrated they had every confidence. Mr Richards thought the quality of the radio* service would continue to improve. The Postmaster-General at this stage said inquiries had been made into the failure of the. radio during the Prime Minister’s speech. It was learned that the cause of the fault was a blown fuse at 2YA station at Titahi Bav. Sir A. Ransom said if the Prime Minister had known as much of Mr Scnmgeour as did the general public he felt sure Mr Savage would not bare agreed to his appointment. Ho did not think the Prime Minister was doing himself justice in failing to agree to the appointment of a Royal Commission, as had been suggested. Mr Mason said tho commercial broadcasting sendee was immensely popular, immensely successful, and extremely popular among the people of New Zealand, and he wondered at the political ineptitude of the Opposition, which could go counter to such an extent to the judgment of the people of this country. Like tho Prime Minister, Mr Mason said he was convinced of tho sincerity of the controller of commercial broadcasting. Mr Hargest sa'd the Government ’’ad broken its prom’se to support the B radio stations, and he thanked the Postmaster-General fw clearing up the innuendo which had been made by the member for Roskill concerning trouble about the broadcasting of the Prime Minister’s speech that night. Ho asked if it were true that Stannago •'tadio Limited had purchased all the time of the commercial radio stations on the air, and rented that time to advertisers Mr Jones: That is incorrect. ‘Mr Hargest said he would accept the Minister’s statement, and proceeded to urge that a Royal Commission

should ho appointed to investigate broadcasting. Mr Smith said he was convinced the people would agree that the Government had not done the right thing in separating the control of broadcasting. He thought tho Bill smacked of political jobbery, and there was more behind it than the House had been told.

Mr Holland agreed that the jamming of the Friendy Road station was a stupid method of putting it off the air, but the action of Mr Hamilton in accepting responsibility for the action was that of an English gentleman. Mr Coates said, in connection with the _ jamming of the Friendly Road station, that every word he had said concerning tho matter at the time had been true, although he doubted if very many people believed it. If it could be proved that ho had not told the truth with the information at his disposal, he would walk out of Parliament and not contest another election. Tho House was left sitting at 2 a.xn. COMMISSION AMENDMENT DEFEATED [Pbb United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 5. The House of Representatives continued tho second reading discussion of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill after 2 a.m., when the following amendment was moved by Mr Coates: — “ This House is of opinion that, In view of the fact that the veracity and integrity of public men have been questioned, the Bill should not be proceeded with until a Royal Commission has reported to the House on the following questions:—(l) All matters of broadcasting policy affecting the national and commercial stations and B stations, with full details of the purchases of the private stations; (2) all matters with regard to the jamming of IZB in November, 1935; (3) all the circumstances leading up to the appointment of the present controller of commercial broadcasting; (4) the business associations, agencies, and financial transactions entered into with respect to the commercial broadcasting stations. The amendment was seconded by Mr Bodkin, and lost on being put to division by 40-15. Tho second reading of the Bill was passed by 40-15 at 2.10 a.m., and a continuation was made with the committee stages of the measure. Tho Leader of tho Opposition stated that they had had a pretty good day, and asked the Prime Minister if he intended to proceed with the committee stages, or to let members get home and have some sleet). Mr Pav" T e replied that he wished to get the Bill through the committee stages, in view of the feet that the session would only last some five weeks now, and they still had a great; deal of work to do. If they got through j tho committee stages now, the third reading would be taken on Tuesday. The closure was applied on the short title at 3.12 a.m. When clause 2 was reached. Mr Hargost moved an amendment designed to place control of all broadcasting under the Director. This amendment was defeated by 39-13. A further amendment was moved by Mr _ Hamilton to the effect that applications should be called before the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting

was appointed. This was; also' defeated by 39-13. . ■ . Mr Bodkin moved that a new clause be added to • the Bill to reduce the radio license,fees .to 20s. The Minister of Finance- (Mr Nash) contended ■‘ ■that - Mr ■ Bodkin’s motion' was not '. in . order, because there was . no provision in , the Bill for fixing fees, The chairman of committee?, however, ruled that the motion was' in order and fees coidd be fixed in' the Bill before the House. - The motion was defeated by 40-15, and the Bill passed unaltered .through the-committee stages. At 4.40 a.m., when tho House adjourned until 10.30 a.m., it was announced that the third reading would be taken on Tuesday night, when the Postmaster-General will reply. to the points raised in the debate. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARMY BOARD BILL PASSES WELLINGTON, November 4, The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. , The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2) was passed. The following local Bills were passed:—Ngaruawahia Borough Council Empowering Bill, Auckland • Harbour Board Loan and Empowering Bill, Motueka Borough Council Empowering Bill, and New ! Plymouth Borqugh Council Empowering Bill, The following private ■ Bills were also passed:—Nelson • Diocesan 'Trust Board Empowering Bill, Wellington Diocesan ;Board of Trustees Church of England , Empowering Bill, Hamilton Parsonage Site Amendment Bill, , and the Church of England Trusts. Amendment Bill. . ' ‘ Moving ■ the second reading of ■ the Army Board (Bill, the Leader ‘of Vthe Council (the . Hon.- M. Fagan) -ex-: plained the measure, land said it. was in a sense a Validating measure because the Amy Board was already in operation.' ■ Hon. F. Waite said the Bill was a valuable piece of machinery, but unless they . had the men . for the ranks it would b'o of little use.. He made a strong appeal for recognition of the soldier. He did not object to the pacifists, he said, but to the apathists,. , and the people of New Zealand should realise that a defence force was necessary and that it was the duty of ail young men to serve, and of employers to encourage them to do so. Better uniforms were needed, but he did not: think the blue colour, would help. What was wanted were better made ghr- ; ments. : , ■ ; Hon. V. Ward said they must either have _ compulsory trainirig, voluntary: training, or a regular army. T}io regular army would cost aboht four times' as much as the, volunteer system,, so it was in the interests of all.taxpay. ers to encourage the volunteer system.' Hon D. Wilson said-that, while the Government was not militaristic in any way, it was determined to provide adequate defence. . • Hon E. R. Davis urged the appoint-, ment of a territorial officer to the Army Board. Hon. J. K, Archer said he had always advocated peace, but he hoped the Bill would be passed., Hon. W. Perry stressed the need for men, and urged the leaders of the country to exhort young .men to, serve and others to support them instead of sneering at them. , The Bill was put through . all its stages and, passed.