SEPARATE CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 21 October 1937, Page 8

SEPARATE CONTROL

broadcasting services. INTEREST IN THE HOUSE. (By Telegraph—Special to “Standard”) WELLINGTON, Oct. 20. The reception of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill, introduced by Gov-ernor-General’s Message in the House of Representatives this afternoon, suggests that radio is an extremely Jive topic when it conies before Parliament. The measure seeks to provide separate control for the Commercial Broadcasting Service, with separate accounts, and a Directpr who will be responsible to the Minister of Broadcasting. A clause ‘ provides that the present holder of the J office shall be deemed to have been appointed in the terms of the Act, and this appointment, which is made by Governor-General-in-Council is subject to review every~three years. The Leader, of the Opposition (Hon. A. Hamilton) asked whether it was a wise procedure to separate commercial broadcasting from the national service. “It looks as if there is some division in the forces between the two contending heads of these two branches,” he added. A brief explanation of the Bill was given by Hon. F. Jone-s, acting-Min-ister of Broadcasting, who was then asked by Rt' Hon G. W. Forbes whether the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting was to be under the Director of Broadcasting. The Minister: He is not under the control of the director, but under the Minister; Mr Forbes commented that this would not make for harmonious working of the national service. Mr S. G. Smith (Nationalist, New Plymouth) asked if the Minister was taking more power to protect the B stations from abolition? That very afternoon the House had passed three Messages from the Governor-General dealing with measures of co-ordination, b*ut here was a Bill to create disintegration in another part of the Public Service. There must he some explanation. “Has there, been a battle royal between the Director of Broadcasting and the Commercial Director?” he asked. Hon. P. Fraser laughed heartily. “Does it mean,” continued Mr Smith, .“that Mr Scrimgeour won the first round? Why take a professor from the University and give him a good salary to control broadcasting, and within twelve months take some of his power away?” The Prime Minister: There are two different jobs altogether—tliat’s why. Mr J. A. Lee: They, are both under the same Minister.

Mr W. J. Poison (Nationalist, Stratford) declared that one branch, the commercial, was subsidiary to the other, and to put a junior officer in control and subject only to the Minister, ignoring the senior officer, was extraordinary discipline. He did not want to hound down the director, but in his own interests and that of the Government he should be subject to control, and it was impossible for a Minister to 6ee to all the details.

Mr Lee: Yon want a controller of the controller.

Mr Poison declared that there were two sets of programmes which clashed. One was ostensibly an “uplift” programme and : the other of quite a different character from the commercial service. There ought to be someone capable of doing the job and saying to the director of the subsidiary station, “This programme will not do; it is unsuitable.” If proper control existed some of the things which had taken place would not have happened. “Will the commercial broadcasting accounts be kept separate?” asked Mr J. Hargest. The Prime Minister: Yes.

Mr Hargest added that there was a feeling of concern over the lavish way in which this service was being conducted, and he was glad to hear that its accounts would be submitted separately. Tlie Bill was read the first time.