B.B. C. PROGRAMMES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23259, 21 July 1945, Page 5

B.B. C. PROGRAMMES

Impartiality Questioned (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 19. Experience has proved that the 8.8. C. has not been, is not, and cannot be impartial on controversial issues, says Mr Ernest Thurtle in his book of memories, comments “Winged Chariot” in “The Times.” Mr Thurtle, during the Coalition Governin' m hamentary Secretary to tlie Ministry of Information. Hom which the 8.8. C. accepted direction in war matters. He thinks that the 8.8. C. monopoly should end. He declares that its much-vaunted objectiveness greatly exaggerated and that private interests and prejudices intrude into the programmes in a number of directions, although in theory the 8.8. C. gave equal prominence to all views. It thus provided an opportunity for any crypto-proselytiser on the staff to make a great show of giving all sides of a question, yet contriving to the weight scales In accordance with his own inclinations. Mr Thurtle argues that on a newspaper anyone attempting to give a “slant” in'articles and news at variance with editorial policy would be speedily detected, whereas a person doing a similar thing on the 8.8. C. could reasonably count on a long, successful run. Turning to the Prc.s, Mr Thurtle declared that the concentration of the enormous power of the Press in a few hands had evil potentialities. He saw for himself, while at the Ministry of Information, the power of the Press to make or break particular Ministers. He believed, however, that a State-con-trolled P.' would not remedy the situation.