BROADCASTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20442, 12 June 1936, Page 11

BROADCASTING

To the Editor ot “ The Timaru Herald " Sir,—ls it too much to ask that members of Parliament who rise in the House to express opinions should have at least a superficial knowledge of the questions under discussion? This morning we read that during the debate on the Broadcasting Bill, Dr. McMillan said: “In fact there had been a sort of truce between the Press and the broadcasting authorities under which the broadcasting authorities would not advertise, and the newspapers would not criticise broadcasting.” Apparently Dr. McMillan is ignorant of the fact that radio advertising was specifically prohibited by the Broadcasting Act. The suggestion that newspapers refrained from criticising broadcasting is ludicrous, and I suggest that you should send him a few back numbers of your Saturday supplement. .As a fact, the radio authorities have shown open resentment of newspaper criticism, both over the air and through their inspired organ. Possibly there is some excuse for the lack of knowledge displayed by Dr. McMillan, but what of the Rev. Clyde Carr, who poses as an authority on radio, and is even said to aspire to the position of Minister of Broadcasting? According to your telegraphed report, "Mr Carr asked if some arrangement were not entered into between the newspapers and the broadcasting authorities that newspapers would not use news picked up by shortwave from Continental and American stations, if the broadcasting stations did not advertise.” Mr Carr also seems to have been ignorant of the fact that the Act prohibited advertising over the air, and it is strange that he is not aware that the Post Office regulations debar anybody from making use of shortwave messages. The Wellington B station 2ZW commenced a shortwave news session, but was threatened with cancellation of its license if this was not discontinued. Then two Christchurch newspapers, the “Sun” and the “Star”, began to feature short-wave items, and were ordered to cease infringing the telegraph regulations.

That the new Postmaster-General did not apprise Dr. McMillan and Mr Carr of these well-known facts, which receiver, wide publicity at the time, was evidence that he too is not well versed on broadcasting matters.—l am, etc., SPARKS. Timaru, June 11.