PARLIAMENT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY’S SITTING. {THE BROADCASTING BILL. ; DEBATE IN COMMITTEE. ' Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 15. The House of Representatives met at 11.30 a.m., the late hour being obierved to allow members to attend the departure of the Governor-General. Mrs E. R. McCombs was granted eight days’ leave of absence on account of illness. , _ , Consideration of the Broadcasting Amendment Biil in Oomimtteo was resumed, the discussion again centring round the broadcast of controversial subjects and members’ endeavours to ascertain from the Minister what was to be regarded as controversial matter. The removal of restrictions on the B stations and the desirability of an election of listeners’ representatives on the Broadcasting Board were stressed. Mr A. E. Ansell asked if the board had’ power to insist on the efficient insulation of power lines. He considered that listeners should have protection from leakages which would interfere with the reception. Either the Post and Telegraph Department of the board should have power to prevent that interference. Mr F. Langstone contended that a Minister should be chairman of the Broadcasting Board so that the House would be in direct contact with those in control of broadcasting. Hon. A. Hamilton, referring to interference. said an amendment to the Posfc'and Telegraph Act ;a year or two ago gave the department power to deal with interference. A committee was set up and had been investigating methods of rectifying interference. Electricity was, however, in use before Tadio and it could be seen that new installations were non-interfering, butmany of the interferences were present before the radio became so extensive and reasonable steps had to be taken in eliminating the interferences otherwise protests would be received from the power boards and other local authorities handling electrical installations.