Labour Party To investigate Press

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1947, Page 6

Labour Party To investigate Press

(Special i WELLINGTON. This Day. Remits calling for inquiries into the Press and the motion picture industry in New Zealand were adopted by the annual conference of the New ; Zealand Labour Party yesterday. A statement issued to the press mentioned only the inquiry into the Press, but the actual resolution is believed to have referred, among other things, to the need for stricter control being exercised. During the last session of Parliament the question was raised by Mr A. S. Richards (L.-Mt Albert), following the decision of the British Labour Government to hold an inquiry into the ownership and control of the British Press.

The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) then said that the Government would consider whether there was need to hold an inquiry into the question of the ownership and control of the Press in New Zealand. PICTURES AND RADIO

The party conference also decided that the committee of investigation which should be established to inquire into the motion picture industry should include workers’ representatives.

Inquiry should be made into film distribution, financial ramifications, labour conditions, the suitability of children's films, children's cinema clubs and the “monopolitstic nature” of the film industry in New Zealand, it was suggested. An improved radio education service, an independent news service and an open forum for matters of public interest were among the suggestions adopted for radio programmes.

Delegates were surprised that the radio news service was drawn largely from existing newspaper sources.

The convener of the committee which reported to the conference on the Press, motion pictures and radio( was Mr C. Carr, M.P. for Timaru.