BROADCAST TALKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21853, 16 July 1934, Page 11

BROADCAST TALKS

POLICY IN BRITAIN "A FORUM OF DISCUSSION" BOLD TREATMENT ALLOWED Information concerning the policy adopted by the British Broadcasting Corporation with regard to the broadcasting of talks in Great Britain has been sent to the Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, by Mr. I. Meltzer, who has been in close touch with the subject during the past two years. After quoting extracts from the official organ of the corporation, the Listener, indicating the bold treatment that is permitted of controversial subjects, Mr. Meltzer states that no room for doubt is left that the New Zealand Broadcasting Board has not, as yet, lived up to the oft-repeated assurance that the board follows the 8.8.C. as its model.

Mr. Meltzer, in an interview on Saturday, said his letter was prompted by a statement made in the House of Representatives by the Minister on Thursday in reply to a question by Mr. W. E. Barnard concerning tho banning recently of broadcast talks by Professor W. A. Sewell and Mr. ■H. D. Dickinson, members of the staff of Auckland University College. In that statement the Minister said that as soon as he received particulars of the policy followed by the 8.8.C. the question would be reviewed and he.would make a full statement to the House. Controversial Subjects

In an editorial as long ago as October, 1932, the Listener stated: "We are promised, indeed, a bold treatment of some of the most fundamental topics of discussion and controversy of the present day ... in which the

agnostic and the sceptic will come to the microphone as well as the representatives of positive belief, both in its Christian and non-Christian forms." The subjects of other talks would be an examination of the modern ideas about the State, the history and development of the organisation of society, which would include expositions of Fascism, Communism, Imperialism, internationalism and constitutional government, and "Makers of the Modern World," in which would figure St. Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Darwin, Karl Marx and Nietzsche.

In August, 1933, the same journal stated editorially: "The late evening talks promise to provoke interest, enthusiasm and disagreement. On Mondays will be political talks —absolutely free and uncensored . . . Among the members of the different political parties who have agreed to speak are the Prime Minister, Mr. Lansbury, Mr. Baldwin, Sir Stafford Cripps, Mr. J. H. Thomas, Mr. Arthur Greenwood and Sir Herbert Samuel."

In September, 1933, the 8.8.C. director of talks in an article, "The New Talks Programme," said: "Intolerance is still likely to retard the development of policy," but the objective of enlightened opinion and the realisation of convictions and opinions based not upon prejudice, but upon intelligence and understanding of conflicting points of view, is enormously worth while. The new talks programme is designed as a contribution to that end." " Every Side of Questions " In an address delivered at Bonar Law College in December, 1933, Professor Ernest Barker, speaking on "The Constitution of the 8.8.C.", said: "It has given the franchise of the air to advanced as well as conservative views. It to keep open house; to create a forum of discussion; to make sure that listeners should hear every side of every question. Free discussion of views is the life-breath of a free common'wealth. The 8.8.C. has provided a new medium for such discussion—the medium of the air. In so doing it has given a new security to British democracy—tho security which comes from hearing, learning to tolerate, and getting to understand other people's points of view. This is a great triumph." "It is obvious that the New Zealand Broadcasting Board cannot justify or maintain its present policy," said Mr. Meltzer. "A policy of what I choose to call 'dignified latitude' would appear to summarise, in my opinion, the urgent requirements of our national system." Mr. Meltzer said he was sure that if any change were made in the 8.8.C.'s present policy it would be in the direction of further relaxation.