"CENSORED BROADCASTS"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23220, 18 June 1937, Page 6

"CENSORED BROADCASTS"

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—From the tone of the letter written by " Nationalist," on the' subject of censored broadcasts, I inferred that it was written by a person with an extremely narrow outlook and a very limited knowledge of the subject. The Labour Government has been put into power by the people of New Zealand, and as yet has not had the wholehearted support which a Government requires if it is; to make a success of its legislation, and it is people like "Nationalist "who oppose the Labour Party at every step it makes that'prevents this-. ■ ~;■ We have nothing .to fear from "Nationalist's alarming statement that "there is a potential Spain in New Zealand." We might say there is a potential Spain in every country in the world, but on no account would the feeling between the classes in New Zealand reach a stag- at which a civil war would be precipitated. I could hardly imagine " Nationalist" attempting to cut the throat of the present Prime Minister. As for the North Island farmers who petitioned- to the Home Government for them to take over New Zealand as a Crown. Colony, this was the'act of a few wealthy landowners who were pampered and spoilt by the last Government and now when something is taken from their pockets to help the working classes, they kick against the traces. Thank heaven most of the wealthier people of New Zealand are ready to help the working man.

"Nationalist" has asked for the opinion of a Labourite as to what actually " censorship of the press " is. Censorship of the press is the rejection of articles or foreign comments which a Government finds injurious to itself We have a good example of press censorship in Signor Mussolini's rejection of all Coronation news. The exclusion from publication of the names of persons who have benefited from the mortgage legislation has not anything to do with the censorship of the press

The Acting Minister of Broadcasting has at his back an expert in broadcasting in the person of Professor Shelley and if anyone is entitled to censor radio programmes, surely it is he. Professor Shelley has had experience in broadcasting in Great Britain, the foremost country in the world in this respect. Surely every sensible man realises that the Government must censor programmes that would prove detrimental to the minds of the New Zealand public. I defy "Nationalist" to give any instance in which the present Government has censored a programme on the grounds that it was likely to prove injurious to its own policy. "Why the idea is ridiculous. Certainly we can pride ourselves in being a free country, and nothing that the present Government has done has curtailed our freedom, but everyone must realise that there must be a moderate form of censorship such as exists at present in New Zealand. —I am. etc.. Invercargill. Juno 14. Labourite.