CONTROL OF RADIO

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 163, 11 June 1936, Page 8

CONTROL OF RADIO

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE

. WAS PROMISE MADE TO B STATIONS? Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 10. The second reading debate on tho Broadcasting Bill was continued ill tlie House of Representatives to-day. Mr H. Atmoro looked upon the placing of control of broadcasting with a public man as a step in the right direction, and a representative of tho people would now have control of the people’s service. The subsidising of B stations was a matter that required urgent attention, and if they wero not allowed to advertise they must be subsidised. Ho supported Parliamentary broadcasting so that tho people could hear exactly what was being saiil and what was happening in the House. Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates criticised tho Minister (Hon. F. Jones) for stating that the Labour Party had promised to give tho B stations assistance if they wero returned to power. The Prime Minister (Mr Savage): I said on everv public platform that I was talking to tho people of the country, not to tho B stations. Tho promise that was made to assist tho B stations had put the Government in an awkward situation, Mr Coates added. Tho Labour Party could not conscientiously or logically support private stations. A promise or an undertaking definitely must have been made between tlio B stations and the Government prior to their coming into office. Government voices : No agreement was made. Mr Coates said that if it had not been for that promise they would not have the Government introducing a measure of that kind, which not only perpetuated but increased the status of the B stations. The Labour Party were caught out by the ill-considered promise that was made, and the Government had to live up to that promise. Mr Coates thought the Government were going far beyond the requirements and the unwritten law of democracy in taking control of broadcasting. If the Bill became law it was sale to prophesy that it would far from satisfy the feelings and requirements of the country. Referring to newspaper publicity, Mr Coates said lie had never known a Government that had been given such fulsome reports as the present Government, and no sooner had any Government come into office than it had been criticised from one end of the country to the other, and even now the Press found fault with the Opposition because they were not able to stop tlie battalions of the Labour Government passing legislation. He opposed advertising over the air, and said tlie newspapers would not object to it because in the countries where advertising was allowed over the air tho newspaper advertisements were bigger than ever. Mr R. A. Wright said the newspapers’ leading articles had been classed as bigoted and vindictive. He held no brief for the newspapers, but as far as he had been able to read since the elections the newspapers had been most mild in their criticism. He thought tlie references to the newspapers had been rather severe. He was absolutely opposed to advertising in any form, and said no money would be made from advertising unless tlie advertisers were given full value for tlieir money. He did not think local talent had been treated fairly. Tlie luncheon adjournment was then taken.