BROADCAST CENSOR

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 23 August 1935, Page 5

BROADCAST CENSOR

RECEPTION AT WELLINGTON WHY ACTION WAS TAKEN PROTECTING LISTENERS During the radio broadcast of Wednesday night’s civic reception in the Wellington Town Hall to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Minister of Finance, 'Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, transmission was interrupted on several occasions when interject, .ions were in progress.

The action of 2YA officials in cutting portion of the broadcast off the air, or “applying the switch” as it is termed in radio station parlance, was the subject of comment. A belief appeared to be current that the switcu was applied in order to hide irom listeners the fact that a rowdy element was present in the ball.

No official statement was forthcoming yesterday when inquiries were made, but it may be said that the Broadcasting Board makes no secret of the fact that it claims the right to “censor” transmissions when desirable. In applying; the switch on Wednesday night those in charge of the broadcast were simply carrying out routine instructions.

However, the interruptions were brought about not because Mr Forbes and Mr Coates were being heckled, but because there is always a danger of “unrehearsed incidents” dui'ing the broadcasting of proceedings at public assemblies of all kinds. At such times an official stands at a switch ready to cut the station right off the air in the event of any attempt by unauthorised persons to get near the microphone and use abusive or otherwise undesirable language.

There have been occasions in the experience of YA officials when trouble-makers and practical jokers have won their way to the microphone and used unpleasant language, and for this reason the board protects its listeners by instructing officials .to stand by the switch. Of the four cuts applied on Wednesday evening the largest was of 14 seconds’ duration. At no time during the evening was the switch applied during the heckling of the speakers except when the danger of unsavoury remarks being broadcast became imminent. POLITICAL SPEECHES OVER AIR; 7 (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. In view of the disturbance created by a section of the audience at the civic reception to the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes and the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates it is believed that the Government will shortly consider the advisability of making use of broadcasting facilities in order to present its case to the pub lie. Similar facilities would have to he provided for representatives of other political parties. The time to he allotted to representative speches would probably bo a matter of arrangement. There is a feeling that a certain section of the community is likely to adopt tactics which will prevent free expression of opinions at public meetings.