STATE CONTROL
Dominion’s Radio Facilities
“NOT DEMOCRATIC”
NZP A—Copyright
Rec. 9 p.m. MONTREAL, Nov. 6. The Chicago Tribune, in an editorial to-day attacking political control of broadcasting, declared that New Zealand could not be called a free country or a democracy. The Tribune said the only political speech over New Zealand stations on the eve of the forthcoming elections would be made by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, unless a court action by Mr W. Appleton, Mayor of Wellington, was successful. The circumstances show how liberty is menaced by government ownership or control of radio facilities, said the Tribune. “We understand that New Zealand has two radio chains, one of them Government-operated and the other, known as the commercial chain, subject to Government regulations. It, too, is therefore under political control. For all practical purposes the party in power in New Zealand is and does just that. “In light of these conditions it is absurd to say that New Zealand is a free country or a democracy by any of the definitions of this much abused word. The same must be said of Britain and every other country that permits political control of radio.”
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 27232, 8 November 1949, Page 6
Word Count
194STATE CONTROL Otago Daily Times, Issue 27232, 8 November 1949, Page 6
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