OVER THE AIR

Southland Times, Issue 22733, 8 November 1935, Page 7

OVER THE AIR

CHURCH SERVICES DISCUSSION BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY FORMATION OF BOARD (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, November 7. Matters relating to the broadcasting of church services were dealt with by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to-day. It was decided inter alia to- take steps to form an inter-church broadcasting board with church representation on the board according to the strength in population. The Rev. W. Allen Stevely, convener of the committee on broadcasting, said that three big matters emerged from the deliberations of the committee. One was that the present allocation of broadcasting services was quite anomalous. The second point was that the committee came increasingly to realize the desirability of being granted time on national stations. The Broadcasting Board replied that if the request were granted, similar requests would come from, other denominations, and the ultimate result would be an overloaded and unbalanced programme. In view of the situation with regard to B class stations, the committee was strongly of the opinion that the church must have time on the National stations for the educational, inspirational and evangelical work of the church. It was felt that the church, having the biggest message of all, had the right to the use of “this great modern means of propaganda for its work.” The third point, closely associated with the first, was the desirability of creating an inter-church broadcasting board.

Tire Rev. G. Budd (Auckland), seconded the motion that the committee’s report be received. He said he believed that far more people listened in to church services than was, realized. He did not agree with the finding of the committee that only by a limited number of radio pastors could an effective continuity of messages and contact be maintained with radio congregations. He thought there was room for diversity in regard to the men who were given the privilege of speaking over the air. He believed that the radio congregation liked a change of speaker as much as the average congregation. (Laughter.) The Assembly passed on to deal with another recommendation dealing with the desirabilitv of there being a reasonable measure of freedom for the purposes of religious publicity by responsible organizations. It was agreed to authorize the Broadcasting Committee to take steps in conjunction with the representatives of other churches to obtain time from the National stations. It was decided to thank the Broadcasting Board for the facilities already ir. pviqfoncc* Mr C. S. Falconer said he thought the question in regard to the broadcasting .of services from Presbyterian Churches in different centres should also be settled. The privilege should go round. He moved as a recommendation that the Presbyterian city churches be wired and a rota arranged for each year by the local Presbyterian Broadcasting Committee. Mr Stevely drew attention to the finding of the Assembly Committee that it was undesirable that more than three Presbyterian churches be wired in each chief centre. Mr Falconer contended that a red herring was being drawn across the scent. He said that what he contended was that it was wrong that certain churches should be selected, and the selection be of a permanent nature to the exclusion of other churches. The motion was carried by 87 votes to 56.