ROYAL COMMISSION

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4565, 5 November 1937, Page 5

ROYAL COMMISSION

INVESTIGATION URGED. COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING. MR. BROADFOOT'S VIEWS. A number of allegations against the Government control of commercial broadcasting were made by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo), in the House of Representatives, when he forcefully demanded that a Royal Commission should be set up to investigate certain aspects of the service. Mr. Broadfoot said that when the New Zealand commercial broadcasting rights were granted in Australia they were granted to a company which at the time was not actually

in existence. They were granted to a private individual and subsequently transferred to a company. No blame was attachable to the Minister, who had probably been badly informed, but it should have been the duty of the Minister to make an inquiry into the position.

Mr. Broadfoot also said that the company which had gained the New Zealand rights was a subsidiary of the McArthur Trust in Australia, and it should be ascertained how this came about.

Among other allegations made by Mr. Broadfoot was one of discrimination in the letting of advertising contracts. He said there existed a certain "pull" which favoured one agency against all others. This was not fair dealing. He also asked ( for an investigation of the finances of the Friendly Road Radio Station. Money had been collected on behalf of that station, and the public were entitled to know what had happened to it. "All we know at the moment is that the money was supposed to go to the establishment of a 'Temple of Grateful Hearts,' " said Mr. Broadfoot. "The 'Temple of Grateful Hearts!' Wouldn't that make your heart bleed! Was a trust fund created, or did the money go into the pockets of the person concerned?" Mr. Broadfoot asked. "We are entitled to know." Mr. A. S. Richards (Government, Roskill): That is a dirty, mean attitude to take up.

Mr. Speaker: Order! You must withdraw those words. Mr. Richards: I'll withdraw them and substitute "unjust and unfair." More forceful words were heard and Mr. Speaker interrupted Mr. Broadfoot and addressed the House on the question of maintaining the decorum of Parliament.

Mr. Broadfoot then said sufficient facts had been laid bare to warrant an investigation by a Royal Commission. If everything was in order there was nothing to be afraid of, and on the other hand if they were not in order the sooner there was a "clean up" the better it would be for everybody. Hidden Motive. Continuing his attack, Mr. Broadfoot said there must be some hidden motive for the non-appearance of the report of the operations of the Broadcasting Service in the House. This report should have been brought down a fortnight after the opening of the session. The Opposition had asked for information concerning the amount paid for the Friendly Road Radio Station, but the only answer it could get was that it would be told when the Estimates were being discussed. Why could a direct answer not be given at once, if there was nothing to hide? he asked. Describing the appointment of the Director of Commercial Broadcasting as a reward for past services, Mr. Broadfoot said that while the Government had taken all precautions in the appointment of the Director of National Broadcasting, it had contented itself in the case of the other man by saying he was the man for the job. In this way it had appointed to a responsible position a man who bridled at any suggestion of control. He had gone to Australia, and announced himself as the Director of Commercial Broadcasting. More than that, he had appointed an Australian woman to the position of programme organiser at a salary of £lO a week. He had not considered any New Zealander to be fitted for this position apparently.

The main defence of Mr. Scrimgeour's appointment was conducted by Mr. Savage himself, who expressed unbounded confidence in the ability and integrity of the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting.