BRITISH BROADCASTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21471, 20 April 1933, Page 16

BRITISH BROADCASTING

POLITICAL DISCUSSION CONTROL BY CORPORATION CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS [from our own correspondent] LONDON. March Ki By .1 vote of 203 to 27 the Houso of Commons decided that on the whole all was well with the British Broadeasting Corporation. A debate arose from a resolution moved by Mr. Emmott expressing tho view that it would be contrary to the public interest to subject tho 8.8.C. to any additional control by Parliament, and that, as regards controversial matter, the governors should ensure tho effective expression of all important opinion in broadcast programmes. Ho wished for an explanation of the constitutional position of the corporation and the relations in which it stood to the Pastinaster-General. Ho referred to tLo two occasions in 1931 when Mr. Winston Churchill was not allowed to broadcast his views on India. It was beyond dispute, ho said, that these views wero important, and ho believed it was wrong to insist that laws must only bo open to comfortable doctrines. Sir Stafford Cripps (Labour, Bristol), moved an Opposition amendment that a select committee be appointed to review the work of recent yearn and mako recommendations. Ho held that if political issues were to be selected, tho selection should be made at the Houso of Commons, and not in Broadcasting House. Sir Kingsjey Wood, the PostmasterGeneral, said that, so far as controversial and political broadcasts were concerned, there was no ban or bar by the Government. Broadcasts on the eve of an election had been a matter of special arrangement between the various parties. But the general principle observed was that there should be no licence for subversive doctrine or propaganda against the foundations and good Government of tho State, but reasonable opportunity for the expression of free opinion and thought. Labour Party's View

It was not unnatural that there should be some complaints and criticism of the corporation. There were at least 22,000,000 listeners in the country, and the 8.8.C. provided 60,000 hours of programme. No doubt every listener had'his idea of what the programme should be. Some wanted the corporation to go gay. Others contended there was too much uplift in the programmes. He believed that fqr every critic there wero 10,000 satisfied but silent listeners. Of course, the corporation made mistakes, but without initiative and experience on the part of the corporation broadcasting would bo a weak and weary affair. As to the amendment, all sorts of allegations had been made by the Socialist' Party against the corporation. In some Socialist organs it had been said that the very tones of the microphone wero Conservative. The real reason for the amendment was that the Labour Party wanted an opportunity of airing' its views before a select committee of the House. Mr. Lansbury said it was totally unfair to allow statements to be made derogatory to the Opposition—without them being given an opportunity of replying.

"Our contention is not that the corporation does not allow political discussions of a controversial nature," he said, "but when it comes to spokesmen for the Government broadcasting highly controversial matter we maintain tho Opposition has a right to answer. I object to tho elevation of the corporation into the position of a kind of god, to choose who shall speak and who shall not. That position has to be met, and I think the House might appoint this committee to try and find some means of dealing with it." Lloyd George's Tribute

Mr. Lloyd George opened with a glowing tribute to the corporation against which, he said, he had no grievance. "I have spent the last 18 months in the country," he declared, "and I say without hesitation that tho British Broadcasting Corporation has added a very substantial percentage to tho amenities of country life. "It has given me also tho opportunity of comparing tho broadcasts of tho corporation with those of practically every country in Europe, and 1 say without any hesitation that, so far as my judgment is concerned, although upon a given night you may get something bettor in one of the capitals of Europe, as far as sustained excellence in quality is concerned, our service is infinitely superior to all of them. That is a very great achievement, and we owe a debt of gratitude to tho corporation for its organising genius, intelligence and imagination." Need for Fresh Air Mr. Chamberlain asked: "Since when has a British Government shirked or been afraid of controversy P I have never heard of such a thine. Controversy has bccu tho buoyancy of Governments. It has been tho means by which they kept themselves alive. Ministers are kept here on the grindstone of criticism. Very often tho process of framing an answer to an attack has been the spur which has discovered the remedy for an evil. "I have sat long enough in Cabinets to know how refreshing it is when the atmospheie of smug complacency and mutual admiration is broken in upon by tho window being thrown up and a keen, even bitter, gust of fresh air coming in. . "1. must admit there are limits. Sedition and obscenity are punished by the law. Tho violation of official secrets is forbidden. But I attach no importance to the argument that you must not talk about foreign affairs or about Indian affairs. "1 think it is very wrong that there has been no permission given for a statement of views on India not represented bv tho Government or the present Opposition. What harm could it do which cannot bo done by a speech or an article sent out to India? Iho object is to prevent tho formation of British opinion. That is what .1 think is unfair, and an abuse of power."