POLITICS ON THE AIR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 191, 14 August 1931, Page 8

POLITICS ON THE AIR

A LABOUR PROTEST DUNEDIN SPEECH QUESTIONED AN INQUIRY PROCEEDING. [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Aug. 13. When the House of Representatives resumed at 2.30 p.m., the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland) asked whether the Government had taken any action with regard to the “flagrant breach of the law” made by the Radio Broadcasting Company in sending over the air from 4YA, on August 10, the speech of Mr A. C. Cameron, president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce —“A bitterly partisan pronouncement, in which the British Government and the Australian and the New Zealand Labour Parties were attacked in unfortunately abusive language.” Mr Holland also asked whether the Government would issue instructions that, under no circumstances, must radio broadcasting privileges be used to send over the air any political, or other, speech couched in language of the nature employed by Mr Cameron and whether the Government would take steps to ensure that broadcasting privileges would not be confined to oi.e political section. He stated that he was receiving letters from Southland and Otago, and other parts of New Zealand, protesting against the broadcasting of Mr Cameron’s speech. The Postmaster-General (Hon J. R Donald) replied that an inquiry was being made into the circumstances surrounding the broadcasting of this speech, which he understood had been made at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. It, was not known at present whether the company had taken the usual, and proper, p-c--cautions with the object of ensuring that the regulations concerning the broadcasting of political matter were not contravened. If it was found that such precautions had been neglected suitable action would be taken. Mr Donald stated that the present regnla tions prohibited broadcasting of political and controversial matter. The Government had no intention of conferring privileges on any political, or other, section.