BROADCAST BAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23861, 11 January 1941, Page 11

BROADCAST BAN

AUSTRALIAN STATIONS DANGEROUS INFORMATION NAVY DEPARTMENT ACTION By Air Mail SYDNEY, Jan. 10 In elaborating on the closing of four A ust ralian commercial broadcasting stations the Attorney-General, Mr. W. M. Hughes, said that the Navy Department, ul which he is Minister, had good reason to believe that one of the four broadcasting stations closed on Wednesday night had broadcast information that might easily have led to most disastrous consequences. "This is not: a final and irrevocable edict." he said, "but a precautionary measure made necessary by the circumstances in which the country finds itself." Mr. Hughes said that the stations had not been closed because ot allegations that they were controlled by Jehovah's Witnesses Loyalty Not Questioned "The stations concerned," he said, "have sent me telegrams protesting against the action and saying that they know of no cause for it. I have replied I would send their protests to Navy officers and ask for their comment and such action as they think is called for by the circumstances. "The stations' representatives say that some of them are returned men and are 100 per cent loyal, and lam not questioning their loyalty. "They were put off the air because the Navy, believing that the enemywas receiving information which enabled him to continue his depredations in safety and with profit, had reason to believe that one. at all events, of these stations had broadcast such information as might easily have led to most disastrous consequences. The question of loyalty for the moment does riot arise. Movement of Troops "If the Government had reason to believe that this was done deliberately, it would not stop short merely by closing the station. Although the ground on which a station was closed was because statements were made over the air which could be picked up 500 miles out to sea by an enemy raider or enemy agent, it requires very little imagination, because of the movement of Australian troops, to realise what that might have meant or might mean. "I have told thetn that the onus is on them to establish not only their bona fides, but. their discretion. A most powerful weapon is placed in their hands; they must satisfy the Government that they can be entrusted with the use of it. Jehovah's Witnesses "The action taken is the result of representations by the service departments. If does not follow that what applies to one applies to all. They were not put off the air because of Jehovah's Witnesses, but because they allowed information to be disseminated which we think imperilled the safety of these States. "1 am not going to anticipate what the lessees—or whatever they might he —of the stations may say, hut the Government will have to he assured that if a station is opened statements should be subject to more rigid surveillance." Right of appeal. Mr. Hughes said, could be lodged by anybody who felt aggrieved by the action, and representations directed to him, as Minister, would receive consideration.