POLICY DEFENDED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22224, 26 September 1935, Page 13

POLICY DEFENDED

REPUY BY MINISTER DIFFICULT PROBLEMS ELECTION BROADCASTING [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER"] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A reply to Labour criticism regarding the press and broadcasting was made by the Postmaster-General, Hon. A. Hamilton, in the House of Representatives to-night. Mr. Hamilton asked the Leader of the Opposition what alternative he would offer to a national broadcasting service which the country had found useful and popular. It was well that broadcasting had been placed in the hands of an independent board. Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour —Christchurch South): Independent of what?

Mr. Hamilton: A board which is much more independent than the hon. member is in his relations with, the Labour Party. This board is fairly representative of all sections of the community, and it certainly has no party affiliations.

The Minister said he would bo glad Mr. \V. A. Veitch (Independent— Wanganui) could suggest a workable scheme for broadcasting election campaign speeches. In the House to-night Mr. Veitch had requested the Government to treat the Democrats on the same basis as any other existing party when it considered campaign broadcasting.

Mr. Hamilton said ho had already discussed the problem with Mr. Savage and others, and they had found it much more difficult than it appeared. It was difficult to define freedom at any time, but when it came to freedom of speech over the air there were all sorts of troubles to be met.

Referring to Labour attacks on the press, Mr. Hamilton said tho newspapers reported speeches on their news value and the Broadcasting Boaid tried to select its programmes on the same basis, on what would appeal to tho public. (Labour laughter.) The Minister referred to the position of the B class stations, emphasising the point that New Zealand should concentrate its radio service to some extent. Great Britain had 12 broadcasting stations. New Zealand had 29. Were they all to be built up with capital expenditure? The board had to take care that it did not choke the air by allowing an increase in the power of the B stations. Tlio Broadcasting Board, said Mr. Hamilton, was subsidising about seven B stations and covering them so far as copyright and pa tent, rights were concorned.

"I do not mind criticism, but a sneer annoys me," added the Minister as ho turned toward Mr. H. Atmore (Independent—Nelson), who occupies a bench across the passage from Mr. Hamilton.

The Speaker said the Minister's reference to a sneer was quite out of order.

Mr. Hamilton: I am sorry, but a sneer does annoy me. In conclusion the Minister said the complications of broadcasting were greater than many people realised.

FREE DENTAL TREATMENT AN AUCKLAND PETITION CHILDREN AT TWO SCHOOLS [BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Wednesday 6 Free dental treatment for all children attending the Beresford and Napier Streets Schools, Auckland, was sought in a petition presented to Parliament to-day by Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central).

Most of the pupils attending thesi> schools, it was stated, were children of unemployed parents, and it was requested that they should be given dental treatment free of cost cither to themselves or to the school committee.

The petition was referred to the Health Committee.

PRISONERS' AID SOCIETY WORK IN AUCKLAND LARGER GRANT POSSIBLE [BV TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER - ] . . WELLINGTON, Wednesday The possibility of an increased Government grant to the Auckland Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society was mentioned in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, in reply to a question by Mr. A. J. Stalhvorthy (Independent—Eden). The latter asked whether the Minister had noted the great volume of socially reconstructive work done by the society and whether he would provide a subsidy commensurate with the value of the society's work. In reply, Mr. Cobbe said the-question of increased grants this year to prisoners' aid and kindred societies was already under consideration. The assistance granted to discharged prisoners in New Zealand was more liberal than it was in England, the total amount paid last year being £6732.