CAUSE OF REGRET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 203, 28 August 1943, Page 2

CAUSE OF REGRET

PARLIAMENT ON THE AIR Wellington, Aug. 26. Regret that Parliamentary proceedings were broadcast was expressed by the Hon. T. Bloodworth (Auckland) in the Legislative Council yesterday during discussion on the Statutes Amendment Bill. “I am one of those who sincerely regret that Parliament is on the air," he said. The Minister of Armed Forces and War Co-ordination (Mr. Perry): Hear, Hear. Mr. Bloodworth said he had been horrified at what people had told him about Parliament as the result ot their hearing only the broadcast part o£ the work of Parliament. Parliament on the air was not Parliament at its best. It did not give a true idea of the work of Parliament, but a lot of people who listened to it thought that that was all there was in Parliament. He did not think it would be of any use if he suggested that broad-

casting of Parliament, should cease, though he would gladly make that suggestion, but he did think something should be done to tell the people the whole truth about the work of Parliament, such as the work of committees. He thought that it would be in the interests of everyone that that should be explained to the people, in a nonpolitical way. The Leader of the Council (Mr. Wilson), who is also Minister in Charge of Broadcasting, said he personally thought that the broadcasting of Parliament was a splendid thing, and he had never received one protest against it. He had received complaints that there had been too much talking which prevented people from hearing what '.he speakers were saying. The broadcasting of Parliament had had an educational influence on the people of New Zealand, and it was probably because of that that the people of New Zealand were possibly mo:» politically conscious than any people in the world.