DEBATE ON POLITICS
OFFER BY MR. DOIDGE MR. LYON EXPLAINS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. A reply to statements made by Mr F W Doidge concerning the projected broadcast debate between him and Mr. W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, was made by Mr. Lyon.
“The question of a debate between Mr. Doidge and myself arose as a result of a meeting of the People s University Association, at' which Mr. Doidge was a speaker,” said Mr. Lyon. “In view of the hostility shown, 1 approached Mr. Doidge and offered to debate any political issue with him at any meeting he cared to designate. He promised to think the matter over. On the following day he rang me and suggested IYA as a medium. I then rang the station director, who informed me that approval was necessary from the Director of Broadcasting, Professor Shelley. “I wired the professor and the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. PFraser, to secure permission from the former for the station to be used and to receive approval from the Minister for my personal participation. Professor Shelley replied that the whole question of debates over the air was under consideration, and he could not give permission until this was finalised. Mr. Fraser replied to the effect that the matter had been referred through the acting-Minister in Charge of Broadcasting to Professor Shelley with the same result.
“Mr. Doidge’s statement that the debate could have taken place before this Government took office is too ridiculus. He must know that under the Broadcasting Board any critical reference to the Government was excised from manuscript, and if it was subsequently mentioned by the speaker he was immediately cut off. Perhaps he has also heard that station IZB was officially jammed (see the admission of the Hon. A. Hamilton). Meantime my original offer holds good, I am prepared to debate with Mr. Doidge publicly in any hall and before any audience he specifies. He can choose his own political subject and name his own conditions.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19370717.2.45
Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19379, 17 July 1937, Page 5
Word Count
335DEBATE ON POLITICS Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19379, 17 July 1937, Page 5
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