“MUZZLING” THE PRESS

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1937, Page 9

“MUZZLING” THE PRESS

LYING PROPAGANDA Nationalists Answered ME FEASER HITS OUT(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 23Commenting on the remarks made ' by Mr W- A- Bodkin, M-P- for Central Otago at Waipukurau on Tuesday, 'in which he said it looked as if the stage was to bo set up for the control of the press, and that the outburst of Rev C- G- Ser'mgeour nt Auckland was not the outpouring of a disgruntled public servant but was made by him as the official Mad of a State Department from a State radio station, and that Mr Scrimgeour yva s m< doubt instructed to prepare publm. opinion fog the setting up of a censorship, the Acting-Prime Minis,ter, Hon P. Fraser, said that there was absolutely not one iota of fact to justify the baseless conclusions advanced by Mr Bodkin, with all the assurance of truth, and calculated, intentionally or unintentionally, to mislead his hearers, contained in that statement“The Government has never at any time considered for one moment anything so stupid as, to use Mr Bodkin’s own words, ‘muzzling the press,’ by which I suppose he means a peacetime censorship,” said Mr Fraser “The very idea is ridiculous.” Regarding the reference by Mr Bodkin to the control of radio,. Hon Mr Fraser said that the Government has used the broadcasting service for Parliamentary debates with scrupulous fairness, and would continue to do so, ME SCRIMGEOUR’S STATEMENTHon Mr: Fraser added; “The statement made by Rev Mr Scrimgeour in regard to a section of tho press was made without the consent, knowledge Or approval of the Government- The propriety of a State radio broadcasting station being used by a public servant for controversial purposes, has received the attention of the Government- The Labour Party has always fought fori freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and these precious privileges of democracy are safer- in the Government’s hands Jian in those of our political opponents-” B CLASS STATIONS Owners Meet Ministers OFFER. CONSIDERED INADEQUATE. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 23. The acting-Minister in Charge of Broadcasting (Hon. F. Jones) stilted to-day that a deputation of represen. Natives of “B” Class station interests had waited upon the acting-Prime Min. st er (Hon. 'P. Fraser) and himself as the result of the offers recently made by the Government for the acquisition of the private broadcasting stations. Messrs W. Green (Christchurch), IK. Mackay (Nelson), and J. Walts (Dunedin), stated; tihe case for the “B” Stations and, after pointing out the services they had rendered to the community, contended that the amounts decently offered by the Government for their stations were inadequate. In reply, both the acting-Prime Min. ister and Hon. Air Jones pointed out that the' Government wa s desirous of being fair to the “B' ! Stations, and was therefore prepared, if the owners were dissatisfied with the amounts offered', to submit the questions to arbitration. Individual i.wners were also offered the oppoitunity of discussing he- matter, on a basis of the- offers made, and the Ministers readily agreed to an extension of time, if this were desired, for consideration of the offers.

In 'icply to a question as to whether the Government would subsidise such of the “B” Stations as were not acquired, the Min.stere replied tha, subsidies would' bo granted only where they were justified in the light of the requirements of the broadcasting service as a whole. While it was made dear that the Government desired that broadcasting should be a national undertaking, :t was indicated that no compulsion to sell wmuld be exercised upon the ownerg of private stations. Mr Jones further stated that certain “B” Stations had already accepted: the Government’s offers to purchase, and that it was expected that as a result of the negotiations now proceeding, other stations would take the opportunity of d.sposinr of their undertakings. AUCKLAND, April 22.

"It was I who asked the Prime Minister. after the appointment of the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour as Controller of Commercial Broadcasting was announced, whether tenders were called for the position,’’ said Mr J. Ilargest, M.P. for Avarua, in an address at Hamilton this evening, when he attacked the Government’s methods or letting contracts and appointing officers. Mr Savage had replied that no tenders were called as the Govern ment wanted a. good man. Good or bad, said Mr Ilargest, he was getting a salary four times that of the Prime Minister, at all events, under this system of appointment. Mr A C Hands,-'general manager ot tne National Broadcasting Service, was appointed at £l2OO a year, Professor J Shelley, Director of Broadcasting, at £l5OO, and Mi- Scrimgeour at about £BOOO. - , 1 „„A "His salary has since been reduced and I think we may claim some the credit for that. What qualifications has Mr Scrimgeour got?’’ asked Mi Hargest. "None in commercial broadcasting. If the Government had wanted an experienced man they would have gone overseas. What Mr Scrimgeour got was the price of his services to the Government before ever it was the Government. GISBORNE. April 22. Referring to Mr Scrimgeour s criticism, Mr Tlultquist in an address at Patutahi last, night, said that Mr Scrimgeour was not his mouthpiece. i Defending Mr Scrimgeour’s appointment, he said it would not have been honest to have advertised the position, "because- we had already decided that Mr Scrimgeour was the man for the job.’’ "I am a loyal member of the Labour Party.’’ said Mr Tlultquist, M.P. "and while I’ve been a member we have never yet carried any- resolution about the Press of the Dominion. JVe have

no right to criticise the Press, and what it publishes. If it does not say about me things I want said, the best thing I can do is to get a press of my own. Personally, I have no fault to find with the treatment given me by the Press, and in spite of the criticism at election time, I ean honestly say I’ve had a fair run.”