DEBATE ON BROADCASTING

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 October 1946, Page 5

DEBATE ON BROADCASTING

OPPOSITION CHARGES STATE CONTROL WITH BEING POLITICALLY UNFAIR

(Press Association) PARLIAMENT BLDGS.. Oct. 4. There was a lively note to the debate in the House of Representatives to-day on the subject of control of broadcasting in New Zealand. The debate was initiated by Mr. F. W. Doidge (Opp.. Tanranga), when the vote in the estimates for the Broadcasting Department was under consideration. Mr. Doidge said there was a feeling in New Zealand that we were not keeping up to date in broadcasting. There was an accumulation of funds amounting to about £2,000,000, and the question was. what did we get for our money? Broadcasting was a State monopoly and if any private concern made such huge profits without reducing costs to consumers there would be a howl from the Government.

Government speakers were heard over the air ad nauseum, but no criticism of the Government was ever broadcast. Mr. T. H. McCombs (Govt., Lyttelton): What are you doing now?

Mr. Doidge: The only time we are permitted freedom of speech over the air is when Parliament is sitting. Mr. Doidge asked the Minister if his attention had been drawn to a book written by Mr. A. F. O'Donoghue, former manager of IYA, Auckland, entitled: "The Rise and Fail of Broadcasting in New Zealand,” which among other allegations claimed administrative weaknesses in the broadcasting service and that it was entirely controlled by the Government (extracts from the book referred to by Mr. Doidge are published on page 7). The system had become a plaything of politicians and freedom of the air in New Zealand was a mockery, Mr. Doidge declared. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opp., Central Otago) said the charges by O'Donoghue were too serious to be disregarded.

Mr. A. G. Osborne (Govt., Onehunga): A public inquiry? (Laughter from Government benches). Mr. Bodkin: Yes, a public inquiry, and not without cause. Mr. Bodkin asked what had the Minister to say to the claim that there was a tie-up between broadcasting and bookmakers, (Government laughter). Mr. J. Thorne (Govt., Thames): Don’t be childish. Mr. Bodkin: Can we take it that the honour of the Government is not worth defending? FULL INQUIRY WANTED He said that history had taught us that wherever there was corruption in the Government it appeared first in the administrative side. He considered a full inquiry should be made into the charge concerning bookmakers. He knew the Government to be nervous about public inquiries, but if the Government was not prepared to meet those charges it should not cavil at the construction the public would put on the matter. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) said he did not know O’Donoghue nor had he read his book, but knowing the Director of Broadcasting as he did he would say that any charges of the nature mentioned were deliberate falsehoods and lies.

Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opp., Waitomo): What about the director bringing a charge of libel?

Mr. Fraser said if the director were libelled the Crown Law Office could take action accordingly. He said he had full faith in the Director ot Broadcasting, and to suggest that he would be capable of anything dishonest or corrupt was all nonsense. So far as a public inquiry into broadcasting was concerned, the answer was definitely no. Mr. H. T. Morton (Opp., Waitemata) said the chief criticism against the broadcasting service was that it blocked out all politlifcl criticism. He described the fees paid to artists as “miserable and utterly inadequate.” Mr. G. F. Sim (Opp., Rotorua). Exploitation of talent. Mr. M. H. Oram (Cpp.. Manav.atu): I do wish to be fair (Government laughter). Mr. Clyde Carr (Govt., Timaru): What an effort! Mr. Oram went on to say that it was incorrect and was a libel on the director and the department to state that there was any tie-up between broadcasting and bookmakers. Mr. Broadfoot: You didn’t expect lhat, did you? “UNWARRANTED CHARGE’’ Mr. Oram said .that to assert that agitation to have racing commentaries broadcast from all parts of New Zealand was made at the instigation of bookmakers was an unwarranted charge against the director and the department. Those broadcasts were started because the great majority ot people were interested in race meetings and wanted races broadcast. The Minister in Charge of Broadcasting, Mr. F. Jones, replying, said the New Zealand Broadcasting Service ranked high with others in the world. A large sum had been built up because of inability to continue the building programme and to obtain new equipment during the war years, but the time had now arrived when new studios and stations and equipment were necessary. He considered that the great bulk of the people appreciated the broadcasting service, and last year 2651 local artists were broadcast. Arrangements were being made with the Australian Broadcasting Commission for world artists who appeared in that country to appear in New Zealand also. He thought Mr. O’Donoghue’s book was designed to fit in with the general election. Mr. Jones said that many people enjoyed racing broadcasts and some spent their Saturday afternoons that way, perhaps even some Mem bers of Parliament. Mr. A. S. Richards (Govt., Roskill): That’s how they lose their chips. Mr. Jones said that other sporting events as well a: racing were broadcast, and if those broadcasts were suddenly discontinued what would happen ? Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opp., Waikato): It would be the end ot you. HASN'T READ BOOK Mr. Jones said he hadn't read the book, but if it was' all on a par wilii some of the sta' •■•-•’Qs quoted then its worthlessness was indicated. Mr. Jones said he was satisfied that Mr. O’Donoghue’s book had been v/ ”t:n ' -■ attempt to damage the Government. Mr. S. W. Smith (Opp., Bay of Plenty) said the estimates showed an item of £44,535 for expenses of the

“Listener,” yet the broadcasting report claimed that the “Listener” had another successful year. Whoever wrote that report deluded himself, said Mr. Smith, because apart from programmes the “Listener” was one of the poorest journals in New’ Zealand.

Mr. Smith advocated the development of controversial broadcasts, as had been done successfully in Australia. At present, he said, New Zealanders heard someone like the Minister of Supply telling a bedtime story on Sunday nights, without an opportunity for the other viewpoint to be put. That was propaganda, not education. Controversial topics should be discussed.

Mr. W. J. Polson (Opp., Stratford): A discussion on Bretton Woods would be valuable.

Mr. Doidge: Hush, hush, hush. Mr. J. K. Holyoake (Opp., Pahiatua): The Minister of Finance could take both sides on that question. Mr. Smith said he wanted programmes more like those of the 8.8. C., with less about soap and 8.0. Mr. Broadfoot: Be honest. REMARKS RESENTED. Mr. R. M. Algie (Opp., Remuera) criticised the attitude of Government members to Mr. O’Donoghue’s book. It should be possible, he said, for a person to write a book without being subjected to the type of inferential abuse uttered by the Prime Minister, w r ho had declared, “The Government could not listen to the barking of every uur who barks against the Government.” Nor was it fair that when Mr. Morton had referred to the book a Minister of the Crown had rejoined, “Are you getting a royalty from it?” Mr. Broadfoot: That’s hitting below the belt.

Mr. Algie said he himself used to do a considerable amount ot broadcasting, but when he developed political opinions he disappeared from the programmes.

Mr. Algie at this Stage was several times interrupted by interjections from Mr. McCombs. “I don’t mind the interjections of my headmaster friends,” replied Mr. Algie, and when Mr. McCombs interjected, Mr. Bowden remarked “Take another 100 lines.”

Mr. Clyde Carr said if Mr. Smith knew anything about programmes, wages and conditions for the staff, he would realise that there was no comparison between broadcasting, as it was under private control in New Zealand and the present service, although the private companies did good work in breaking the ground. Any of the major services was far too big for private enterprise and private control of the major service had proved a washout. The broadcasting service in New Zealand, commercial and otherwise, was as good as anything on earth. GIVEN £lOOO A YEAR JOB. Mr. Doidge said the advertising manager of the commercial service, Mr. Stewart Duff, had resigned three months ago. He understood that a man named Young had since been in that job, which was worth at least £lOOO yearly. Was his appointment permanent, or would the post be advertised?

Mr. Doidge said Mr. Young was formerly a Treasury clerk and had no advertising experience, yet he was in a job with a turnover of a quarter of a million yearly. Mr. Doidge said he had been advised by advertising men that they could get no decisions from Mr. Young, who was obliged to refer them to Professor Shelley. “And what in heaven’s name does Professor Shelley know about advertising?” he asked.

Mr. Doidge said the Minister should pay close attention to a straw vote now being taken by advertising men among the public as to whether the joint control of the commercial and national services was preferred or not.

Mr. Jones, replying, said the “Listener” had a circulation ol 60,000, which showed that the public appreciated it, but the amount of letterpress was limited by the paper restrictions.

Mr. Jones said he saw no reason why open forums to discuss the social question should not be successful in New Zealand and that the matter was now being inquired into, but he thought that if every organisation, large or small, were allowed to broadcast its views, the service would deteriorate.

Mr. Jones said that artists' lees had already been increased and an extension of the chain of stations wouiu orfei increased opportunities to local artists.

Mr. Jones said the insistence on single control of the commercial and national services came mostly from the Opposition, and now that amalgamation had been adopted he thought it was working out well.

PROFESSOR SHELLEY’S KNOWLEDGE.

Mr. Jones said Professoi Shelley did have a knowledge of advertising. Twenty-four years ago he had given a scries of lectures on the psychology of advertising.

The Leader of the Opposition (Ml. Holland): Who did he give them to? Mr Jones: To Christchurch business men.

Mr. Jones said the appointment of Mr. Young was made by the Public Service Commissioner. He did not know if it was permanent or whether the position would be advertised, but he would inquire from the Public Service Commissioner. It was news to him that a man without advertising experience was occupying the position.

Mr Jones said he understood that the system whereby the broadcasting services obtained their race results was the same system that had ope. - ated 18 years ago, long before the

Government took the services over. He would look into allegations made by Mr. O’Donoghue, but they would probably prove a mare's nest. Mr. T. P.Paikea (Govt.,-Northern Maori) made a plea for more Maori news reviews and the reinstitution of Maori programmes and talks by Maori people, but not from a political angle. (Opposition hear, hears). He considered more Maori announcers should be encouraged. Mr. Jones saind Mr. O’Donoghue’s book had been issued for the purpose of damaging the Government. It was a propaganda pamphlet to assist the Opposition and damage and discredit the Government. Mr. Holland: You’ll be blaming us .or putting up Mr. Scrimgeour at the last election! Mr. Jones, referring to the Maori programmes said every endeavour would be made to provide adequately for Maori listeners. Previous Maori announcers who were now engaged on rehabilitation work, would later return to the service. Mr. Clyde Carr advocated the advisability of establishing a local symphony orchestra in each of the four main centres. Mr. McCombs: That’ll be pricey. Mr. Carr: Not at all. He added that performers would be hono. ary. Mr. Clyde Carr said the national orchestra could be set up from local or-

chestras. He did not consider the proposed Conservatorium of Music should be independent, of the University of New Zealand. The vote was passed and the House adjourned for lunch at 1 p.m.

(Extracts from Mr. O’Donoghue’i book are published on page 7.)