The Manawatu Daily Times Press Partiality and Air Muzzles

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 227, 26 September 1935, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times Press Partiality and Air Muzzles

Labour’s barely annual—the alleged unfairness of Press reports of political debates in Parliament —was given another airing in the House last evening', when the leader of the Labour Opposition, who surely must know better, made wholly unfounded allegations and was supported by two or three of his most voluble henchmen.

The occasion for this little vendetta was an attack on the Government’s broadcasting policy, in which Labour speakers demanded the “freedom of the air” for everybody, and incidentally dragged in the Press of New Zealand as the villains of the piece, alleging that they were really responsible for having the “muzzle” placed on broadcasting.

There is no necessity to reply to these oft-repeated attacks except to say that a measuring rule placed over the reports of Parliamentary debates and pre-election speeches during the past month will show that at least three-quarters of the space has been taken up by Labour utterances, most oil them mere wordy repetitions of their leaders’ views. The reason for this, of course, is that the time of Parliament is at present being wasted in “addressing the electors’’ instead of doing the country’s business, and .in this particular art Labour members are acknowledged experts.

Of more moment, however, is the Opposition leader’s request for the “freedom of the air.” His complaint of muzzling follows the refusal of the Broadcasting Board to allow one of the Auckland stations to broadcast the protest meeting of clergymen held in the Queen City on Tuesday evening unless a copy of the speeches to be delivered Avas first handed to the board for perusal. As the meeting Avas an indirect attack on the Government’s unemployment policy it Avas obviously impossible to alloAv the air to be used for such a purpose Avithout creating a dangerous precedent.

The policy laid doAvn by the Ncav Zealand Government on broadcasts follows closely the admirable precedent of the British Broadcasting Corporation, avliosc magnificent service to its listeners is the envy of the avliolc Avorld.

Loiig experience has revealed to the 8.8. C. the numerous pitfalls Avhicli strew the path, of broadcasting, particularly in the matter of expressions of opinion on controversial subjects, and it is not to be Avondered at that no speaker is allowed to waft a single Avorcl on to the ether that has not previously come under the eagle eye of the censor. Even the comedian is not allowed to crack an original joke in front of the “mike.” All his spontaneous humour has to be carefully committed to paper and read to his hearers Avord for Avord.

If long experience has proved the wisdom of such a course in England, surely the younger Ncav Zealand board cannot be blamed for wishing to feel its Avay cautiously along such a rocky road. The only people so far Avho have demanded free air for politicians arc the politicians. The Press might Avclcome such an innovation Avere it as a consequence absolved from the necessity of having to devote so much of its space at so considerable a cost to airing the opinions of people too many of Avhom have no other qualification for public life than their ability to make the loudest possible noise for the longest possible period. *

Troop and section loaders of the Mounted Rifle Brigade, which includes Mdnawatu, Queen Alexandra (Taranaki) and Wcilingtou-East Coast, ,/ill undergo a training course in camp on the Dannevirkc racecourse for about nine days next month, commencing on October 10. Apart from staff officers, it is expected that about 30 officers and N.G.O.’s will participate in the instructional work.

Woodvilla businessmen have decided to form a retailers’ association to further the interests of the town. Delegates from clubs throughout the Wairarapa from Upper Hutt to Pahiatua inclusive, were in attendance at the Mastertou A. and P. rooms on Thursday last, when it was decided to form a Wairarapa provincial council of young farmers’ clubs. .