SILENT STATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23691, 24 December 1938, Page 11

SILENT STATION

THE CLOSING OF 2KY LABOUR BODIES INDIGNANT THREAT OF DIRECT ACTION (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, Dec. 22. Labour organisations are highly indignant over the peremptory closing of their station. They are preparing a public protest meeting for business men, advertisers, and sympathisers generally, and also petitions for signature throughout the State. Certain key unions are threatening direct action. The metal trades contemplate " irritation stikes " on the defence contracts and munitions works, and the power house employees are considering a partial black-out of the city. Officials at 2KY declare that they are receiving sympathetic messages from listeners in all parts of the State. A report from Adelaide to-night states that Mr Cameron refuses to be stampeded by Labour threats. He states that he resents the accusations that he is attempting to create a dictatorship, and that he is getting quite used to the designation "Fascist!" when something is done by a Cabinet Minister which is not approved by the person affected. PRESS COMMENT ON INCIDENT " DICTATORIAL CENSORSHIP " SYDNEY, Dec. 23. (Received Dec. 23, at 6.30 p.m.) The Sydney Morning Herald, in an editorial commenting on the banning of 2KY, says:—"Postmastergeneral Cameron appears to think that he owes nobody an explanation of his unprecedented action. Since the principle of free speech would seem involved, the fullest justification will be required by the public of the procedure, which has not been explained and savours too much of dictatorial censorship to be palatable to a freedom-loving community. This autocratic method of administering the department may be suited to Mr Cameron's temperament, but it is contrary to the ordinary amenities of intercourse between the Post Office and its clients. It is angering to the public, and, pending a satisfactory explanation, must be damaging to the Government, which has already been shaken by Mr Thorby's recent intolerant outburst. Mr Lyons's administration was earlier embarrassed by Mr Paterson's blundering in the handling of the Freer case, Mr Thorby's errors and indiscretions did it further injury, and now there is a third incident. Country Party Ministers' maladroit handling of a matter touching freedom of speech has aroused a fresh storm. The tendency to clothe the heads of departments with arbitrary powers to legislate, adjudicate, and pass sentence without resort to the courts is one of the most vicious features of 'present-day political life. If it is not checked democracy will narrow down from precedent to precedent until bureaucracy will ultimately be enthroned in its place." RESTORATION AGREED A QUESTION OF TERMS WELLINGTON. Dec. 23. Advice has been received from Sydney this evening that the Post-master-general (Mr A. G. Cameron) has agreed to the terms of an agreement for the restoration of Station 2KY on the air. In a message received yesterday the Postmaster-general stated that he accepted full responsibility for the withdrawal from the air of 2KY's licence at 4 p.m. yesterday. Officials of the station expressed amazement at the suddenness of the Postmaster-general's action, which is attributed to the views and statements emanating from their news commentator urjon the pig-iron dispute at Port Kembla and the controversy between Mr Thorbyt and Mr Curtin.