BROADCASTING BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22519, 13 March 1935, Page 10

BROADCASTING BILL

PERSONNEL OF BOARD QUESTION OF LISTENERS' REPRESENTATIVES. (Fbom Our Parliamentary Repokteb.) WELLINGTON, March 12. It is believed that the inclusion of two listeners' representatives will be provided for in the amendment to be introduced by the Government when the Broadcasting Amendment Bill is in committee. The board is to be increased from three members to seven. Several deputations have pressed for the inclusion of. listeners' representatives, and the Postmaster-gene-ral (Mr A. Hamilton) in his replies has indicated he is not averse to that proposal. It is anticipated, however, that such representatives will be appointed by the Government and not elected by the listeners as has been urged in some quarters. The Government will probably invite listeners' organisations to submit a panel of nominees, and will make a selection of two representatives from within that group. It is also understood that a change will be made in clause 6, which empowers the board to control the programmes of all broadcasting stations. The main object of that clause was to place in the hands of- the board power to determine questions arising out of the broadcasting of controversial matter. That intention will be pursued, but it is understood that the clause—the most comprehensive one in the Bill — will be modified in some particulars. The suggestion hag been made that the clause prohibiting advertising over the air will be redrafted, but it is understood that that speculation is not correct.