RADIO ADDRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22796, 2 August 1937, Page 12

RADIO ADDRESS

MINISTER'S DECISION

SOCIAL JUSTICE CRUSADE MODERATOR'S TALK' CANCELLED Dissatisfaction with the decision of the acting-Minister of Broadcasting, tlie Hon. 1\ Jones, in refusing to allow the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the Rt. Rev. T. H. Poseveare, to broadcast under the auspices of the Crusade for Social Justice from station IZM last night was expressed by officials of the crusade on Saturday morning. As a result of the Minister's decision, Mr. Poseveare's address was cancelled.

The Minister's reply to a telegram' forwarded by the vice-president, the Rev. W. Averill, asking for permission, for Mr. liosevearo to broadcast, was that, pending the Government's decision on the question of broadcast talks and debates, and having regard to the reasons lie had already explained, it was regretted that it was not possible to agree to a broadcast under tlio auspices of the crusade on Sunday. The Minister stated, however, that he would be pleased to allow the Presbyterian moderator to speak from IZM that evening, provided his script, which should first be submitted to the station director, met with approval. Principle cf Freo Sppech The view taken by officials of the crusade is that tho Minister's reply is a violation of the principle of free speech, and that it is contrary to the statements made by the director that tho features of the station would continue. They would not ask the .Moderator of the Presbyterian Church to submit his script for approval, and for this reason it had been decided to cancel tho ad- j dress.

"i have no comments to mako beyond reiterating the statements made following the curt cutting off of.the Presbyterian services a month ago," said Mr. Poseveare, in a telephone conversation yesterday. A request had been made to the Minister that these services should be allowed to continue until such time as a decision was reached, and it would have been reasonable to allow them to do so, Mr. Roseveare remarked No Political Colouring Mr. Posevearo said he felt no bitterness whatever about the Minister's decision. He pointed out, however, that his address was not going to have any political colourings, it was to bo a simple application of the principles of Christian teaching to life, such as he would deliver from his own pulpit.

The Crusade for Social Justice could not be interpreted as reflecting the views of any political party, Mr. Roseveare continued, it was an organisation working for the good of the community, and he could not see why any change in tho policy of the station should interfere with statements of the kind delivered under its auspices. There was no partisanship at all. The addresses were a broad general application of Christian principles to life, Mr. Roseveare concluded.