BROADCASTS COMPANY HAULED OVER COALS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6633, 21 August 1931, Page 6

BROADCASTS COMPANY HAULED OVER COALS

Controversial Matter Introduced by Speaker

“EXPLANATION TENDERED NOT VERY CONVINCING”

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In a statement in the House of Representatives, the Postmuster-General (Hon. J. B. Donald) said the leader of the Labour party (Mr. H. E. Holland) and Rev. C. Carr had recently asked questions concerning the broadcasting from 4YA, Dunedin, of a speech by Mr. Cameron, past president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce. The matter had actually been taken up with tho general manager of the Broadcasting Company before any public comment had been made, as it was clear that a good deal of the subject was controversial and constituted an infringement of tho regulations.

The Postmaster-General added: “In reply to the Department’s enquiries tho general manager stated that the station director at Dunedin considered that all reasonable precautions had boon taken with a view to ensuring that nothing of a controversial or political nature should be introduced. An assurance was received from the secretary of tho Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to this effect and an undertaking was given that tho speech would be confined to Imperial and economic questions. It would appear that' the position was not made clear to the speaker prior to tho broadcast.

“In a further communication to the general manager of the Broadcasting Company tho Department took up the view that the explanation tendered was not very convincing and that the address should have been properly supervised and the broadcast interrupted immediately the controversial matter was commenced. The general manager was also informed that failure to do this had evoked unanswerable criticism and that it was imperative that adequate safeguards should be adopted to prevent a recurrence.

“The action taken should preclude the possibility of a similar happening,’’ concluded the Minister.

Still Another Disinterested Deputation

WELLINGTON, Last Night. A deputation from 2YA’s Wellington musical and dramatic advisory committee waited upon the Postmaster-Gen-eral to urge the Government to discountenance any alteration in the system of control and management under which the broadcasting service has been successfully established in New Zealand. Mr. E. Palliser, chairman of the committee, explained that the advisory organisation was distinct but vs as functioning in connection with tho broadcast station of 2YA, Wellington. The committee represented most of the musical and dramatic organisations in Wellington. The broadcasting service was a public utility for tho general benefit of the community and not for the radio trade. It was brought in touch with a considerable number of listeners who appreciated to the fullest degree the present service. The failure of the extensive and energetic campaign of the Radio Listeners’ League to enrol more than a small number of licensees was evidence that there was not widespread dissatisfaction with tho existing service. In the committee’s opinion, the Government should not embark on further business undertakings. The Minister remarked that the recent proposals by the Broadcasting Company would not givo listeners any say in the control as the chairman’s casting vote might operate against them.

A member of the deputation asked the Minister whether the company would ignore tho rights and recommendations of the minority. Mr. Donald replied that that was how it appeared to him. He was impressed with the suggestion by a member of the deputation that legislation should be enacted to impose a penalty on anyone through electrical leakage.s from power lines, machinery or appliances causing interference with broadcast listening. I’he Minister said he would embody the suggestion in the legislation.