POLITICAL CONTROVERSY

Evening Star, Issue 23147, 22 December 1938, Page 11

POLITICAL CONTROVERSY

RADIO STATION PUT OFF THE AIR ACTION BY POSTMASTER-GENERAL Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, December 21. Labour’s broadcasting station 2KY was suddenly put off the air this afternoon by order of the Postmaster-Gene-ral, Air A. G. Cameron. It is understood that this arose out of the ThorbyCurtain political controversy. OBJECTIONABLE STATEMENTS RESENTED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SYDNEY, December 21. (‘Received December 22, at S a.m.) Interviewed in Melbourne to-night on his way to Adelaide, the PostmasterGeneral, Mr Cameron, said that he accepted full responsibility for the withdrawal of 2KY’s license at 4 p.m. today. He had given a personal warning that action would be taken if the station failed to conform to the requirements of his department, and added: “We expect from the commercial broadcasting stations the same standard of ethics as is demanded from the newspapers.” It is understood that correspondence between the Postmaster-General’s department and 2KY has been going on for two years concerning the transmission of statements regarded as objectionable by the Federal Government, particularly upon international affairs. Officials of 2KY expressed amazement at the suddenness of the PostmasterGeneral’s action, which is attributed to the views and statements emanating from their news commentator upon the pig iron dispute at Port Kembla and the controversy between Mr Thorby and Mr Curtin. One of his remarks was that Mr Thorby “ was trying to run Australia with a spittoon in one hand and a smoking gun in the other.”

The Prime Alinister stated that he did not propose to take any further action at present in regard to the dispute between Air Thorby and Mr Curtin in view of Mr Curtin’s acceptance of Air Thorby’s explanation. ONE MINUTE S NOTICE GIVEN ATTACK ON INDIVIDUALS ALLEGED SYDNEY, December 22. (Received December 22, at 12.15 p.m.) One minute’s notice was given to the station that it was to be cut off the air and 2KY had no opportunity to inform the listeners.

Mr R. King, M.L.C. (secretary of the 2KY Committee) said Mr Cameron had complained that the 2KY news commentator (Mr J. Morley), had attacked individuals. Mr King added that Mr Cameron was trying to stifle free speech over the air. About 20 minutes after the station was cut out the chief radio inspector (Mr W. T. Crawford) arrived at the transmitting station at French’s Forest on the northern side of the harbour, accompanied by a policeman armed with a warrant to enter the station, and the transmitter was closed. The Australian Labour Party decided last night to call upon all branches and workers generally to carry motions of protest. Mr Lyons, who was in Devonport last night, made telephone contact with Mr Cameron at Ararat and arranged for Mr Cameron to get in touch with the controllers of the station to-day.