Thames Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1936. THE 1ZB “JAMMING” SCANDAL.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19605, 10 January 1936, Page 2

Thames Star

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1936. THE IZB “JAMMING” SCANDAL.

“With malice towards none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.”—Lincoln.

To-day our readers will peruse with amazement the report of the Postmaster-General in connection with the “jamming” of IZB Broadcasting Station in the closing stages of the General Election. The official inquiry verdict plainly states that instructions were actually issued by responsible authorities within the late Government under direction of the late Postmaster-General for steps to be taken to stop the Friendly Road speaker, whose usual talk was to be delivered on the same evening as the final address of Mr. Coates at the Auckland Town Hall. When questioned by telephone from Christchurch to Invercargill upon the outcome of the inquiry, Mr. Adam Hamilton, former Postmaster-Gen-eral, said that “Uncle Scrim” had to be watched, “and that if he overstepped the mark had to be stopped.” The member for the Southland constituency then remarked that he did not know what steps had been taken in that respect. After he ‘had set the ball rolling,” so to speak! Then, with much the same grandiose and magnanimous manner as Sir. Coates immediately after this scandalous election incident, Mr. Hamilton very sacrificingly says that “if” there is any blame attachable to anybody “I will take it,” as lie did not wish any officers of tho Postal Department to get into trouble! Now Mr. Hamilton wants time to make a “considered” statement. These are times for frankness and truth. The incident is proved to be one of the most glaring instances of attempted suppression of free speech that could be imagined. A powerful transmitter r \vas brought from Wellington with a man in charge. “To understand the ‘jamming’ incident it was necessary to review the conditions under which the license was granted to the Friendly Road Station,” adds tho ex-Minister in a later incriminating statement, apparently attempting to justify such outrageous department action. The people of New Zealand qre unlikely to be impressed with such belated explanations from this member of the late Cabinet, and moreover, abuse of the Friendly Road will not justify the late Government. Just as amusing as the incident was sensational was the series of denials and statements made officially when the presence of the transmitter was suspected and eventually located. Mr. Coates was then in the picture. First, what had occurred was a mystery, according to the member for Kaipara, who roundly denounced the interference as something that would not be tolerated by the Government! Then there ’ was apology to the Rev. Scrimgcour and offers to make amends. When the offending shed was tracked down, near Newmarket on Government property, there was supposed to be nothing in it but old tyres and junk. When the suspicion deepened, it was admitted that there was a small set there being used in connection with obtaining All Black football results on shortwave! The fat was in the fire when the powerful transmitter was seen. Followed explanations that the plant was being used for earthquake testing, and simultaneously that it was in some strange way being, or to be, used for aerial navigation purposes. The public of Auckland, particularly, literally screamed at these vain efforts to hide up what is now disclosed. The whole incident will go down as the most infamous of New Zealand electioneering historv, no matter what else may be voni dated on the subject.