BROADCAST POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21962, 20 November 1934, Page 8

BROADCAST POLICY

CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS BOARD'S DIFFICULTIES REPLY TO CRITICISM [by telegraph—owx correspondent] CHKISTCHURCH, Monday "We have often been criticised for Hot broadcasting talks on controversial subjects, but few realise how difficult it is to select suitable subjects and speakers," said Mr. L. R. C. Macfarlane, South Island member of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board during an address to the Christchurch Businessmen's Club to-day. "We wish we could find them." Mr. Macfarlano added. Mr. W. J. Hunter said later that lie understood there was a definite rule that controversial topics were not permitted over the air. Mr. Hunter considered that ordinary people did not exercise themselves enough in controversy. They were generally content to leave it to academic people. All the recent trouble had resulted from outspoken si>eeches by academic men. who believed themselves capable of talking on all subjects. A professor should feel that anything lie said in public must be well considered. "We cannot •always exclude the discussion of controversial topics over the radio," said Mr. Hunter. "When an important subject arises I, for one, should like to hear speeches for and against and from every angle."

Mr. Macfarlane indicated that the Broadcasting Board had arranged for the broadcast of a series of speeches by some of Britain's leading speakers on the subject,. "Will There Be War?" These, he added, should satisfy listeners' needs in this direction for some time.