“ANOTHER MARE’S NEST”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22903, 10 June 1936, Page 7

“ANOTHER MARE’S NEST”

NEWSPAPERS AND THE RADIO MR C. L. CARR’S SUGGESTION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 9. The suggestion by Mr C. L. Carr (Govt., Timaru) that there had been arrangements between the newspapers and the last Government was denied in the House of Representative*? to-day by the Post-master-geneyaj (Mr F. Jones). In an urgent question. Mr Carr asked whether station IZM, M anur ewa, owned by New Zealand Newspapers, Ltd., had had its power increased above 100 watts by the previous Government, mid if so was this a contravention of the regulations then in force and a breach of faith with other R stations. Mr Carr also asked whether the last Government when prohibiting advertising over the air was given a quid pro quo by the newspaper press that Continental and American short-wave information would be published. In reply to the first part of the question Mr Jones said: "My inquiries show that in March, 1931, the licensee of IZM was given authority to increase the power of hie station from 10 watts output to 50 watts. This authority, however, was not availed of until March, 1034. In regard to the second part of the question no undertaking has ever been given by the newspapers that in return for the prohibition of advertising by radio they would refrain from copying and publishing news matter broadcast by overseas; short-wave stations. The publication of such matter is specifically prohibited in the radio regulations. It will ho evident that if the newspapers were granted permission to news picked up from the air it would interfere seriously with our cable communications.”

Mr W. j. Poison (Opposition, Stratford): Another marc’s nest, Mr Carr: Sez yon.