CONTROL OF RADIO

Evening Star, Issue 24917, 15 July 1943, Page 8

CONTROL OF RADIO

I REMOVAL FROM POLITICS URGED FARMERS OPPOSE GENERAL STATE OWNERSHIP (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 14. Emphasising as a plank in its platform the right of fvee speech, the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-night unanimously adopted resolutions that the radio be removed from political control and placed under a corporate .body elected from the principal sections of the community and that the abuse of the censorship be terminated and the censorship used only to prevent the publication or dissemination of news likely to bo of use to the enemy. The follovying policy statements were approved : •'The Fanners' Union holds that it is desirable that the Slate should operate certain public services, especially where by their nature they must be of a monopolistic character, such as railways, telegraphs, and electricity, but the union is definitely .opposed to tin,' policy of the Stale ownership and control of the means of production, distribution, and exchange." "That except in regard to lands held for specific pirposes the holder be entitled lo acquire the freehold from the State under tair and reasonable conditions. That the Government facilitate the taking up of land by suitable settlers with small amounts of capital, but only after the requirements making the full recovery of farm costs possible have been met. We regard it as essential that this be done before any large-scale settlement under the rehabilitation scheme is attempted. That for rehabilitation purposes the Government should provide advances on special terms of payment to those ex-soldiers wishing (u purchase private land."