PROTEST MADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 179, 1 August 1940, Page 5

PROTEST MADE

SUNDAY BROADCASTS NATIONAL LINK-UP COMMENTS IN HOUSE WELLINGTON, July 31. ' A protest against the monopoly by Ministers of the Crown and by the Director of Commercial Broadcasting of certain sessions on the Commercial Broadcasting Service’s schedule was raised by Mr. F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga) and other Opposition speakers in the House of Representatives last evening, when tre Broadcasting Report and Estimates were being discussed. Mr. Doidge congrateulated the Prime Minister on tnc change in the 2ZB talks on Sunday. No longer, he said, did they get all the class hatred, and they were very grateful. “But why is that monopoly, given to the gentleman who comes to us on Sunday nights?” asked Mr. Doidge. “We used to hear other speakers, including Mr. J. A. Lee, and we much prefer him to the gentleman we get regularly Sunday night after Sunday night.”

The Rev. Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru): You are prejudiced. Mr. Doidge- I am definitely prejudiced. and I think a lot of other good people are prejudiced, too. He suggested that other speakers should be given a chance. He referred also to the fact that while censorship was exercised in the House. Ministers could go out every night on the air. Minister Criticised He criticised the Minister of Supply for remarks he made over the air when he returned from Australia, and referred to the speech made some time ago by Mr. McLagan, who, on a national hook-up, had vilified Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Chamberlain's Government. Mr. Doidge said he would not have dared to do such a thing in the House AV hen he criticised the Socialist Premier of France, members on the other side of the House had apopletic fits. The Minister of Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) strongly denied that he had said anything hurtful to the Australian Government. When he was in Australia he broadcast over the entire Australian network of 226 stations on five occasions, and he said then practically the same as he had said in New Zealand. In an interview the Prime Minister of Australia had told him that the broadcasts had been most helpful to Australia. “There seemed to be a general feeling that I had assisted the Australian war effort,” said Mr. Sullivan. Referring to the suggestion that Ministers had a monopoly of the air, Mr. Sullivan said he hoped the Government would not surrender its right in this way to tell the people of the country what they should know. “Poisonous Talks” “I think the proper place for making statements when Parliament is in session is Parliament itself,” said Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (National, Waitomo). “Sunday night should not be appropriated to national link-ups for poisonous talks; for they are poisonous.” Mr. W. M. C. Denham (Government, Invercargill): Why do you listen to them? Mr. Broadfoot: Someone says, “Whydo you listen to them?” I would like to know who it is that says that. Mr. Broadfoot said he was glad to see that at last the Government appreciated the value of reserves. The New Zealand fee was the dearest licence fee in the British Empire. If it were not, why were they amassing such large reserves? What were the reserves invested in, and what rate of interest was being paid? The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) said that as far as the war effort was concerned the Government would give every encouragement to all classes in the community to broadcast. The Prime Minister had a committee dealing with these broadcasts and employers and employees were both taking part. He was sure the Prime Minister would be only too pleased to give others opportunities. Mr. W. S. Goosman (National, Waikato >: Will they have to submit their speeches ? Mr. Jones said that all speeches had to be submitted, as even Cabinet Ministers could make mistakes. Replying to Mr. Broadfoot, he said that the licence fee was evidently not too high as licences were still increasing. Mr. Doidge: Its the war news they •want. That’s why they are taking out more licences. Mr. Jones sail there had been a steady increase before the outbreak of war.