Thames Star THURSDAY, SEPT. 22, 1938. POLITICAL BROADCASTING.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20419, 22 September 1938, Page 2

Thames Star

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22, 1938. POLITICAL BROADCASTING.

"With malic* toward* none; with charity for all; with firmne** in the right, a* God give* us to see the right.'’—Lincoln.

Being on top, Mr. Savage is goirjg to use or abuse every privilege his position affords him of electioneering over the air. Some time ago, he intimated that the wireless would not he used for the purpose, hut recently changed his mind and implied that a fair arrangement would be made between the parties. His idea of fairness, however, was disclosed last Friday when he intimated that the Labour Government had fixed dates on which his Party speakers would ha've the right to use the broadcast on six occasions, the National Party on four, and Independents on two, and further declared that he personally would use the service during- the campaign whenever he felt it necessary to do so. However, the question is a larger one than the Party definition of individual members. The greater issue at stake is the right of any Government to use a State service to seiVe its own party ends, to the detriment of any other political group or groups. Mr. Savage has no more right to use the State Broadcasting Service for his party purposes than he has to carry 'voters for his party candidates free on the State railways. It is as improper as it would be to use the State printing office to print his party’s election propaganda; or to use the funds of the State to make a moving picture to send round the country with an electioneering-agent of his party; in fact, Mr. Savage has no more right to use the broadcasting service than Mr. Sorimgeour had on the occasion when he vented his personal grievances and attacked his critics. When challenged with the impropriety and unfairness of his action, Mr. Savage revealed his true party colours and declared that he, personally, would use the broadcasting service during the elections whenever he felt it was necessary to do so. Should this be taken as indicative of what is in store for the people of New Zealand if the Labour Party is returned to power? The exercise of dictatorial powers would seem necessary to the party for the enforcement of its plans. HoAvevev, there is that spirit of fair play and sportsmanship in the country that will ensure that no advantage will be gained bv the use of such tactics.