RADIO DEBATE BANNED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19378, 16 July 1937, Page 12

RADIO DEBATE BANNED

MR. DOIDGE AND M.P. SEQUEL TO CHALLENGE STRONG PROTEST MADE (Pflr Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The refusal of the broadcasting authorities to permit a debate on socialism between Mr. F. W. Doidge and Mr. W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, to be broadcast from IYA, was the subject of comment by Mr. Doidge in an address at a meeting of the National Party, at Mount Albert tonight. He said that an important principle was involved and considerable interest would attach to the ultimate decision of the Minister.

"Following my recent address on socialism at a meeting, Mr. Lyon expressed a desire to debate the subject with me," said Mr. Doidge. "I gladly accepted the challenge and suggested that IYA would provide the best forum. Mr. Lyon unhesitatingly concurred and offered to make the necessary arrangements. "I have since been informed by Mr. Lyon that the manager of IYA would welcome such a debate, provided it was approved by the authorities in Wellington. . Mr. Lyon telegraphed in succession to two Ministers of the Crown. In each case the reply was the same. New conditions concerning broadcasting are under consideration and at present the debate between Mr. Lyon and myself is out of the question.

"In the days when free speech over the air was our common right, there would have been no trouble in staging such a debate," Mr. Doidge concluded. "The application lodged by Mr. Lyon and myself must be regarded in the light of a test case. An important principle is involved and considerable interest will attach to the ultimate decision of the Minister."