RADIO DEBATES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1931, Page 5

RADIO DEBATES

MINISTER’S LETTER. SOME NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS WELLINGTON, April 30. The attitude of the, Postmaster-Gen-eral, the lion. .). lb Donald, towards broadcasting controversial matter is explained in a letter to- Air Howard, member for Christchurch South. Replying to representations from a deputation which desired that debates •should he presented over tbe radio, tlie Minister [mints nut that when the Christchurch BruiuleU sting Debates Commit ton last October asked for a ruling on ibis subject it was iniormeit that the regulations regarding broadcasting controversial matter are -strictly enforced, but if tlie committee submitted information regarding tlie subject of the proposed debates it would be officially informed whether they came within the meaning of the regulation. The Department received no reply to this request.

The Minister suggests that every effort had been made to assist the interested parties, who must agree that such a regulation was necessary to protect listeners. “Nevertheless, there would appear to be no objection to debates being broadcast, provided the Radio Broadcasting Company is in a position to make the necessary arrangements,” states Mr Donald. “It is only reasonable, however, if my approval as Minister is necessary, that 1. should be placed in a position to judge whether the proposed matter is suitable for broadcasting.”

The Minister points out that the English system, giving more liberal control over this matter, is only an experiment, the British Broadcasting Company, having the onus of complying with the regulations. All broadcasting companies closely examine matter intended for broadcasting, and there is no reason why the subject matter of any debate or lecturette should not he made known to the responsible Minister before he is asked to sanction its transmission over the air. The final arbiter must be the Broadcasting Company, which may not consider the subject sufficiently interesting to listeners.