PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

SPIRITED DEBATE BROADCASTING BILL AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED ■ ,) LISTENERS' INTERESTS NO URGE FOR PROGRESS[BT TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER") WELLINGTON, Thursday Broadcasting was the main theme in Parliament to-day. Amendments were introduced by the Government to the Broadcasting Bill providing for representation of listeners on the hoard and recasting the clause giving tho board supervisory powers over broadcasting programmes. Complaint was made by Opposition members fighting the case for B stations that the amendments did not greatly alter the original indentions of the bill. The bill had been read a second time last week, but a long debate developed on the short title in Committee today. The Government did not seem anxious to' hasten progress. Indeed, the unexpectedly spirited nature of the discussion —a contrast to the second reading speeches—really suited the Government. because of its domestic difficulty in reconciling caucus opinions on the Rural Mortgagors Fipal Adjustment Bill, ;which, on the original programme, should have entered the second reading stage to-day. The alacrity with which the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, promised the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, to-day that a day would be set aside to discuss unemployment problems before the session ended, also indicated that} the Government is really marking time pending the drafting of amendments to the Mortgagors Bill. If the opposition so desired, it might place the Government in an awkward situation by curtailing discussion, but the readiness with which members discussed the findings of select committees on private petitions this afternoon showed that the House is disposed to loiter unduly when not subjected to gentle pressure. The British Nationality and Status of Aliens Bill and the Companies (Bondholders Incorporation) Bill reappeared in the House to-day because of amendments transmitted from the Legislative Council, and the House agreed with the changes made.

It is not thought it will be possible to end the session before the last week in the inorfth.

SUBSIDISED B STATIONS QUESTION OF INCREASE / . PROMISE BY MINISTER l*Y TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] "WELLINGTON. Thursday A promise to represent to the Broadcasting Board the feeling of some members of Parliament that more B stations should be subsidised was made by the /Postmaster-General, Mr. A. Hamilton, in the House to-night, when replying to comments on the Boardcusting Bill. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Labour —Avon) asked whether the Minister would recommend the board to make such subsidies. 1 Mr. Hamilton: No; but I will represent the views members have expressed. I do not want to interfere with, the board. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Labour — Napier): You will just be a liumble suppliant? Mr. Sullivan: Parliament will go cap in hand to the board. Mr. Hamilton: 1 think it is likely that what is asked will be fixed up. The board might very well look favourably on B stations. It is its job to give a good coverage. . Mr. A. Harris (Government —Waitemata): Do you really think it will look favourably on B stations? Mr. Hamilton: It is subsidising eight B stations now and may decide to subsidise more., for all I know. Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Independent —Eden) complained that the effect of the Minister's speech was that the wishes of the House would be subsidiary to the dominance of the board. THE COMPANIES BILL HOUSE ACCEPTS AMENDMENT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] ' WELLINGTON, Thursday An amendment made in the Companies (Bondholders Incorporation) Bill by the Legislative Council was agreed to by the House of Representatives to-day. ' ' Tho Minister of Einance, Mr. Coates, explained that the amendment dealt with proceedings of the commission which were to be private. Originally it was provided that no report of proceedings was to be published in any newspaper, save with the consent of the commission. The amendment removed the words "in any newspaper and made |he prohibition general.

BROADCASTING RECORDS COMPANIES' ATTITUDE [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday The attitude of certain gramophone record manufacturing companies toward B broadcasting stations was commented on by Mr. A. E. Ansell Chalmers) during the Conymttee debate on the Broadcasting Bin in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. Ansell said he had received advice indicating that a certain company was trying to prevent the broadcasting of its records from B stations and_ iefused to negotiate with the stations for the use of records. An arrangement had been made between the Broadcasting Board gramophone companies for permission to broadcast records, and he asked if that arrangement could be extended tol include B stations. The Postinaster-General, Mr. A. Hamilton, replied that it was not the place of the Government to interfere in a matter of that kind and it would be unwise to attempt to do so. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON. Thursday The Legislative Council this afternoon received the Mortgage Corporation Bill, which «as read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Labdtir Bills Committee recommended that/ in view of the advanced of the session further consideration of the Workers Compensation Amendment (No. 2) Bill be deferred inti] next, 'session.