BROADCASTING VOTE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 307, 26 November 1937, Page 6

BROADCASTING VOTE.

PASSED BY HOUSE. AMENDMENT DEFEATED. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 25. The; National Broadcasting Estimates, totalling £354,416, were passed by the House of Representatives tonight in five minutes, this extraordinary celerity being due either to the Opposition plans or a strategical error. It was 10.15 p.m. when this vote, one of the most contentious among the millions which had been voted, came under review. It was divided into two sections—broadcasting £233,933 and commercial broadcasting £120.643. “We have had a lot of discussion, and the hour is rather late,” remarked Hon. A. Hamilton (Leader of the Opposition), announcing that he in- ' tended to move a reduction in the vote by £120,643. This represented tho total of the final sub-division, and Mr Hamilton explained that he wished to see it eliminated because the Opposition had no confidence in commercial broadcasting, while he personally thought the appointment of the controller was unfortunate—and that opinion was held by a mighty lot of people in New Zealand. There were . two directors, but he thought Professor J. Shelley had the approval of everybody. The Opposition members showed no desire to talk, for they, preferred to vote on their Leader’s amendment.

It went to a division and was negatived 40 votes to 16, and Mr R. A. AVright (Wellington Suburbs) proceeded to ask questions about the item in the ordinary broadcasting vote under which £20,000 is transferred to the works fund as a progress payment in connection with the new Broadcasting House and Conservatorium of Musio and Spoken Arts. He was allowed to complete his speech, but Mr E. J. Howard (Chairman of Committees) permitted no further discussion. “The total vote has been carried by the refusal of the House to reduce the last item,” he announced, much to the surprise of most'members. “There’s nothing left on tlie Estimates,” declared Mr Howard with finality. ‘ As sonie members of the Opposition appeared puzzled and inclined to continue, Hon. H. T. Armstrong told them, laughingly: Try it next year 1 The Chairman instructed the officers to call Mr Speaker, who was informed that the Estimates had been and tlie next move was from the Prime Minister that the House adjourn—-a welcome proceeding after exhaustive sittings.