SILENCING THE “B” STATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23221, 19 June 1937, Page 7

SILENCING THE “B” STATIONS

GOVERNMENT DEFAULTS ON PLEDGE The denial of the Acting Prime Minister that the Government is defaulting from its pre-election pledges in regard to B stations is not at all convincing, is the opinion expressed in a statement issued by the National Party. “We want to guarantee freedom of expression, is what the Minister is reported to have said, while at the same time the Acting Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Jones) has refused that freedom. The action of Mr Jones is evidently the beginning of a censorship to prevent any criticism of the Government being sent out over the air, thus effectively silencing any reply to the Government propaganda which is being broadcast on, Sunday nights by a Government official. Mr Fraser says that the Government will not compel B stations to sell, but he carefully avoids giving any guarantee that, in the event of their refusal, they will be given a licence to carry on. The same attitude is being taken by the Minister of Transport when he says no compulsion will be used in regard to the sale of certain services, but “ he cannot say whether the licensing authorities will renew the licences of those who refuse.” The attempt on the part of the present Government to gain control of all radio stations is a vicious one, more especially as it has already been demonstrated that one particular Government station is disseminating thinly-disguised Socialist oropaganda as part of its regular functions. There is no opportunity for anti-Socialists to reply except through the B stations, and the Minister of Broadcasting (in one of the few statements he has made since Mr Scrimgeour ridiculed one of his former ones) says that anything critical of the Government is to be subject to the censorship of the Director of Broadcasting. The Director of Broadcasting is a Government official, who apparently has not the same freedom of action as his colleague in charge of commercial broadcasting, and the Minister’s decision is placing him in an invidious position. Mr Fraser and Mr Jones have also given the impression that all the B stations are willing to sell to the Government if they can obtain a sufficiently high price This is an unworthy suggestion, which indicates that the Government is hard put left justify its dictatorial attitude in this matter.

Some of the B stations have expressed I licit’ willingness to sell, it is true, but others again have declined to sell on any terms, and it is simply the desire on their part to preserve their liberty that has led them to make the protest which is strongly supported throughout the country. Mr Fraser’s assertion that some B stations are endeavouring to build up a ramp so that they can get an unduly high price is as ungenerous as it is incorrect, and will deceive no one The whole business shows that those who believe in individual liberty of action and the free expression of opinion—fundamentals of true democracy—can hope for nothing from the present Administration.