Peace and Navy League.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 8

Peace and Navy League.

Dear Sir, —Recently the Navy League refused to support the proposal made by the Xo More War Movement that the Government should be asked to allow the wireless to be used “ for the education of the people of the Dominion through a critical (twosided) treatment of the vital social questions of the hour.” Some of the reasons given for this decision had nothing whatever to do with the subject under discussion. and after reading the “ Star’s ” report of the discussion, one was given the impression that it was only because the proposal was sponsored by the No More War Movement that it received such scant consideration. There was no suggestion made in the Movement's letter or in the petition forms that it was desired to ” dictate to the Broadcasting Board,” or that what was wanted was ” uncontrolled broadcasting," as some of the Navy League speakers inferred. All that was asked of the board and in a perfectly constitutional way, was that some of the present restrictions which prevent the radio being used to the fullest extent for educational purposes should be removed. Will the Navy League say that they do not agree with the No More War Movement's contention that the radio should be utilised so as to present to listeners-in information from all angl4* about the social problems of the hour, so that they may have a full comprehension of these problems and be able to determine the best possible steps for solving them? And, if so, why? The Movement desires, for instance, if the subject for discussion over the air is the genera! topic of peace and war, .or disarmament versus increasing armaments, that equal facilities for giving both sides of the argument should be granted. How otherwise are the people to judge as to the real merits of the case? And what real objection would the League have to such a knowledge? Their rather petulant criticism of the No More War Movement is no answer to these questions, and intelligent people will not be misled by them. Any man or body of people who feel that they have some worth-while contribution to make to the discussion of vital problems should be ready to support any proposal that will give them a wider “ platform ” for the expression of their views. Their refusal to do so suggests their poverty of sound arguments; and if the only reasons that the Navy League can advance for refusing their support to the Xo More War Movement's proposals is their hostility to the latter, “and their unfair statements that the Movement seeks ‘‘uncontrolled broadcasting" ?.nr,| to “dictate to the board,” then the Navy League have only themselves to VJame if the public come to the perfectly legitimate conclusion that they fear free and open discussion of their views.—l am, etc., C. 11. COLE.