PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20969, 4 September 1931, Page 11

PARLIAMENT.

broadcasting bill NEW SYSTEM OF CONTROL. ENDING present lease. INTEREST, of members. DIFFERENCES in opinion. [by TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Interest in this evening's sitting of the Honse of Representatives centred upon "the Broadcasting Bill, which was intro dnced by Governor-General's Message, and which {?ves effect to the Government's decision to terminate the lease of the present company and place control of radio broadcasting in the hands of a board of four members. The appearance of the measure had awaited keenly, in spite of the fact that a brief announcement by the Post-master-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, gome days ago, outlined the system to. be adopted. From the reception given to {he bill, it is certain its passage will be marked by the expression of widely different opinions. The attitude of the House toward a bill can often be gauged from the anxiety of members to speak upon its appearance, and enough was said this evening to show that the PastmasterGeneral, who is" in charge of the measure, will have to meet considerable opposition to the proposals. Government Appointments.

In the first instance, speakers were critical of the fact that four members of the new board of control would be appointed by the. Government and that there was apparently no provision for the representation of listeners. It was urged jlhat this was not, right, especially in view ef the fict that it was the listeners who maintained the service by payment of licence fees. One or two, Reform speakers ques-

tioned the advisability of further coin- ' mitmentis being undertaken by the State at the moment, this comment arising through the statement of the PostmasterGeneral that the Government would have to buy out the present stations at a cost of aboit £30,000. A-i important statement amplifying the announcement of the scheme for the placing o:i, single unemployed men in camps was made by the Minister of Labour, the H(?n. S. G. Smith. It was stated that about 20 camps were to be established in every province, except Taranaki, sind that between 25 and 80 men would be accommodated in each. Adjournment until Tuesday.

Discussing the question of pay, the Minister said the system to be adopted ,wouid give each man about 10s a week above his keep, although some might receive slightly more on a basis of payment on merit'. There will be no sitting of the House to-morrow, the adjournment until Tuesday evening having been taken to enable the special Economy Committee to devoteas much time as. possible to its work. It is hoped the hearing of evidence will ix> concluded early next week. The Auckland Harbour Bridge Bill was assured ,of much support, but the time taken over several local bills robbed it of the chance of passing it during the sitting It would appear that Labour members, who ordinarily would be against making;- such a concession to private enterprise, are supporting the bill because the erection of the bridge promises to givei employment to a large number of men orer a long period. The bill will probably be committed next week.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SUPPLY BILL PASSED. DOMINION'S PROBLEMS DEBATED. [BY rELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] "WELLINGTON, Thursday. The debate on the Imprest Supply Bill (No. 2i) was continued in the Legislative Council to-day. < The Hon. J. A. Hanan (Otago) said the basis of New Zealand's prosperity was the land, and hntil the farmers' position was tackled, the Dominion was not going to ree;ain a stable condition. It was absolutely necessary there should be strict economy. The Hon. J. B. Gow (Auckland) Pressed the need for quickening land development by attracting investments into hind. He' deplored the fostering of secondary industries at the expense of the rest o:f the people and the primary producer in particular. ■ ®ir James Allen (Otago) said competition fcy American shipping lines in the Pacifk was conducted on an unfair basis. He referred to the United States marine »ws, which authorised the payment of heavy subsidies/ to shipping companies and restricted British ships in American waters. He did not suggest retaliation, but considered the proper course to take would be to represent the case to Britain, believing a round-table talk with the American representatives would do much to remove the injustice. The Hon. Dj Buddo (Canterbury) suggested the land tax should be abolished in order to relieve the farmer. Sir Heaton Rhodes said there should B . an ,. a PPeal to the Government to take action • against American shipping competition in the Pacific. New Zealand and ustrsilia should jointly ask Britain to Biake an effort to place competition on a fair basis R . ln reply, the Leader of the Council, y Th°mas Sidey, said the question of ipping competition was being carefully by the Government at present n the suggestion that appealed to him f/wu should be made fh kJ m PP r ' a ' authorities, pa d V,as P ut through all stages and

the naval reserve. Operations during year. TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.] • WELLINGTON, Thursday, operations of the New Zealand aval Reserve are covered in the anJ e P°rt °f the New Zealand Naval mpnt . lc " was presented to Parliacf tVi t? even:ng. The total strength 3l laJ! a ' Naval Reserve on March of iv, t> aS °® ccrs ar, d 295 men, and 77 nfti Naval Volunteer Reserve, and 558 men. the lVn° r j S^Vs t ' lat n ' ne sections from ton f t an Division, five from Wellinj*terhniH°u m 0ta S° and three from CantrawlZ ut V , 6 , been embarked on the iiiß in ura . or a period of train-aavic-it^? 6 Ew . ee P in g> gunnery, signalling, cmli; seamanship. In addition Sha»TtiJ? Ji u er carr ied out training on M 6 lianedin and- the Diomede.

BECEPTION IN HOUSE. ' ' •• V, BUYING PRESENT STATIONS. COST OF ABOUT £30,000. REPRESENTATION ON BOARD. INTERESTS OF THE LISTENERS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.'] "WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Broadcasting Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives this evening by Governor-General's Message. The Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral, explained the measure along the lines of his recent statement. He said the board that would be set up to control broadcasting would not be a State department. Its members would be appointed by the Government. Mr. W L. Martin (Labour—Raglan) r Who will they be ? Mr. Donald: I have already had 200 applications, but rio one has been selected up to (he present. Mr. Martin: Is it true that provision has been made for the inclusion of two superannuated public servants ? Mr. Donald: I don't know of it. Remuneration of Members. The Postmaster-General said there would be four members of the board. The bill stipulated that no member of Parliament should be eligible for appointment. (Laughter.) The remuneration of members of the board would total £1350. It would carry out the work at present being done by the Broadcasting Company, and he hoped to better advantage. Mr. F. Langstone (Labour —Waimarino): i What will it cost to buy the company out ? Mr. Donald: It is anticipated it will cost about £30,00(1. Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform —Palmerston): Will you have to buy out the present stations ? Mr. Donald: Yes. Mr. H. M. Campbell (Reform —Hawke's Bay) expressed liis disapproval of the bill. He said tha board would, according to the Minister, cost £1350 annually, and there would also be an expenditure of £30,000 in buying out the present company. He considered this was unwise at a time like the present. Mr. W. E Barnard (Labour —Napier): There is money in it for the country. Mr. Campbell: This is no time for delving into fresh State enterprise. Listeners Bear the Cost. Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour —Christchurch South) protested against the method of the appointment of the board. The broadcasting service belonged to the listeners, who paid the licence fees, and the State would not have to find a penny piece. He considered it was most unfair that listeners, who would have to pay for buying out the company and everything else, should have no say in the selection of the board. If 60,000 holders of licences were in this position, they would have less influence on the board than they had on the company to-day. Mr. A. E. Ansell (Reform —Chalmers) said he joined with Mr. Howard in protesting against the method of appointment.

Mr. Donald: It; is the intention of the Government to siee that listeners have representation on the board. Mr. Ansell asked whether any profits from broadcasting would bo used for the improvement of the service. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said he thought when the bill was fully understood it would be welcomed by listeners. The board would consist of the best men available. It would be impossible to devise a system of election by listeners. It would create an unsatisfactory position if people in the far north were asked to choose between Jones, Smith or Robinson from someone else, when it was quite likely they would know nothing about the men nominated. The Government would be in a better position to judge what men would be suitable.

Mr. F. Waite (Reform—Clutha): Are you going to make arrangements to broadcast Parliamentary debates? Mr. Forbes: I hope not, for the sake of those listening in. State and Responsibilities.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, said very careful examination would have to be given to the question whether it was wise for the State, to accept further responsibilities under the present economic circumstances. Immediately upon a change in control there would be demands for improvements in the service, and he was inclined to think the Government might find itself in the same position as the Broadcasting Company, namely, that capital expenditure would be necessary to effect improvements. He was afraid if the public was to be given a full, complete, and up-to-date service, it would be found that heavy expenditure would lie ahead of the board. , Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour—Avon) asked whether any provision was being made for B class stations. Messrs. J. A. Nash and Barnard urged that listeners should be given reasonable rights in the matter of selection of members of the board. Mr. Donald assured the House there would be no political appointments. He said although times were bad there were more listeners to-day than ever. That showed there need be no fear that the revenue would go down. He was satisfied that before long there would be 100,000 listeners. Referring to the board, he said if he held his present office when •it was appointed, he was quite satisfied that listeners would have their say. Mr. Howard: What do you mean by that 1 . . Mr. Donald said listeners would be aprea( ] a first time.

JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS. LIMITATION OF REPORTS. BILL ON BRITISH MODEL. [by telegraph.—PßESS association.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Judicial Proceedings (Regulation of Reports) Bill was read a second time, pro forma, in the Legislative Council, .ml referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. This bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Air. i., Fraser (Labour— Wellington Central) and parsed by the House on Wednesday, is an exact y copy of the British Act, passed at the end of 1926. It Provides that it shall not be lawful to pubhsh in region to any judicial proceedings, any indecent maS or indecent medical, » physiological details which , calculated to injure public ~Lly In reports of divorce cases or affiliation cases t£ following particulars only are. to be allowed:—(a) The naihes, and occupations of the pai les nesses; (b) a concise statement of the, charges, defences and c 0" . support of which evidence has been given, & fa" ! tSrro°X P proc.edinss, and the decieion of the Court lta»; STS? (S Sj) «}? *£&£ the Court and .observations made by Judge in giving judgment.

PROVISIONS OF BILL. BOARD MEMBERS' SALARIES. STAFF TO BE APPOINTED. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SERVICE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Broadcasting Bill provides for a board of four members, all of which are to be appointed by the Government. Jt will be known as the New Zealand Broadcasting Board and will become a corporate body. The first chairman shall be appointed for five years, subsequent appointments to be made for three years. Of the other members, one shall hold office for a period not exceeding four years, one for three years and the remaining member for two years. All the members are thereafter appointed to hold office for three years. Members may become eligible for reappointment. Contracts made by the board must be made either under the board's seal or over the signature of two members, but verbal contracts may be made under the usual conditions, involving amounts up to £2O. Provisions for Dismissal. Members may be removed from office by the Governor-General-in-Council for disability, insolvency, neglect of duty or misconduct, or for having benelited financially as members of other companies from contracts made by tho board. Publication in the Gazette shall bo a sufficient notice of dismissal.

Deputy-members may be appointed in cases where required. The chairman will receive £SOO a year and the other three members will each receive £2-50 a year. All will receive travelling allowances and all payments are to bo made from the revenue of the board. The board will appoint a staff necessary to conduct a national broadcasting service and it also may appoint advisory committees, including district committees, to facilitate tha conduct of the service. Officers and servants of the board will not in any way become public servants. Improving the Service.

The functions of the board, which is to take over its office on January 1 next, are described as being to carry on and improve the broadcasting service within New Zealand, to obtain licences under the Post and Telegraph Act, 1928, for the operation of broadcast stations; to enter into agreements with the PostmasterGeneral for the payment ol a portion of wireless telegraphic fees to the board. The board is also empowered to carry out any subsidiary business which, in the opinion of the Postmaster-General, is ancillary to tho conduct of the broadcast service.

Existing stations and plant will be taken over at a price to be fixed by the Post-master-General. The board will not be permitted to deal in wireless apparatus and it shall be bound not to enter into agreements with any but the New Zealand Government.

Although the board is not allowed to borrow without the consent of the Post-rnaster-General, it may secure advances from the Government to enable it to overcome preliminary expenses until its revenue is established.

An annual report is to be presented to Parliament,, and the Postmaster-General is given authority to approve the manner in which the board's surplus funds are invested. AUCKLAND DRAINAGE BILL. AN AMENDMENT DELETED. HOUSE PASSES MEASURE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. ' There was some discussion on the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill in Committee in the House of Representatives to-night. The Local Bills committee had iriade some amendments to the bill, and these were allowed to stand with the exception of an addition to clause four, which required the board to obtain the consent of the Local Government Loans Board before arranging an overdraft for special works. The Hon. A. J. Stalhvorthv, Minister of Health, who is in charge of the bill, moved the deletion of this addition. He urged that it would be intolerable if, when works were in progress, there should be delay in obtaining temporary overdraft accommodation through the necessity of getting the board's consent. The amendment was therefore deleted and the bill was passed. MUSEUM MAINTENANCE. POSITION OF HELENSVILLE. PASSAGE OF BILL DELAYED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. A hitch occurred to-night when the Auckland War Memoiial Museum Maintenance Amendment Bill was in the second reading stage in the House of Representatives. The Local Bills Committee had inserted a new clause removing the Helensville Town District from the list of contributors, and an objection being raised, the Speaker indicated that the local bodies concerned should be made aware of the change before tho clause was adopted. Mr. 11. G. R. Mason (Labour —Auckland Suburbs) objected to the removal of Helensville from the list of contributors to the maintenance. He said Helensville's share would have to be borne by the local bodies. The whole of the Waitemata County was a contributory, and if Helensville, which was in the centre of the county, was going to escape, it might then be claimed that all the area north of Helensville should be exempted. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates said it was admitted that a mistake had been mado in the first place in including Helensville and it should now be left out. Mr. Mason and Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour —Auckland West) urgec} that the bill be held up for tho purpose of consulting the other local bodies concerned. The Speaker drew attention to the Standing Order, which provided that no new clause bo added to a local bill which was not within the objects which the bill as originally introduced was intended to effect,. It seemed to him that the clause affecting Helensville fyad been inserted in non-compliance with that Standing Order. It would be the duty of the chairman of committees to hold up the clause, but it would be competent for the Minister in charge of the bill to move for the suspension of the Standing .Order concerned*.

The bill was set down for committal next week. LOCAL BILLS PASSED. < [by telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The following local bills were passed by the House of Representatives this evening:—Cameron and Soldiers' Memorial Park (Masterton) Trustees Empowering Bill (Mr, G. R. Sykes), Rotorua Borough Reclamation Empowering Bill (Mr. C. H. Clinkard), South Wairarapa River Boawl Empowering Bill (Mr. T. W. McDonald) and the Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill (Mr. E. J. Howard).