Partisan Political Speech “ On the Air”

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6627, 14 August 1931, Page 6

Partisan Political Speech “ On the Air”

LABOUR’S IRE AROUSED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon the leader of the Labour party (Mr. H. L. Holland) asked whether the Government had taken any action in regard to a “flagrant bieacli of the law" made by the Radio Broadcasting Company in sending over the air from 4YA on August 10 a speech by Mr. A. C. Cameron, president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce —“a bitterly partisan pronouncement in which the British Government aud the Australian and New Zealand Labour parties were attacked in unfortunately abusive language."

Mr. Holland also asked whether tho Government would issue instructions that under no circumstances must the radio broadcasting privileges bo used to send over tho air any political or other speech couched in language of tho nature employed by Mr. Cameron and whether the Government would take steps to ensure that the broadcasting privileges would uot be confined to ono political section. Ho stated that he was receiving letters from Southland and Otago and other parts of New Zealand protesting against the broadcasting of Mr. Cameron’s spcecn. The Postmaster-General (Hon. J. B. Donald) replied that inquiry was being made into tho circumstances surrounding the broadcasting of this speech which lie understood had been made at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. It was not known at present whether the company had taker, the usual and proper precautions with tho object of ensuring that the regulations concerning tho broadcasting ot political matter were not contravened. If it were found that such precautions had been neglected suitable action would be taken.

Mr. Donald stated that the present regulations prohibited tho broadcasting of political and controversial matter. The Government had no intention ot conferring privileges on any political party or other section of the community.