RADIO BATTLE IN AUSTRALIA OVER CONTROL

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1948, Page 5

RADIO BATTLE IN AUSTRALIA OVER CONTROL

SYDNEY, Nov 1 (Recd 8 pm).— The determination of Hie Federal Government to establish lirm control over privately-owned and operated commercial stations as well as its own Australian Broadcasting Commission is expressed in legislation introduced in the Senate by the Post-master-General, Senator Cameron.

The measure, which was something of a surprise outside Ministerial circles, has been roundly condemned by the Opposition and by a large section of the Press as another step towards the Labour goal of complete nationalisation and as a blow against private enterprise and iredom of expression.

Provisions of the new Bill confer upon Mr. Cameron and the board of three, who are yet unnamed, wide powers of censorship over broadcasts. Clauses lay down that the Board may ban any programme to which it takes objection, may prevent any political party from using its funds to obtain widespread radio publicity on the Cray ‘s that financially weaker opponents cannot do the same, and may exercise indirect control by its power over network contrcts.

Tlie Liberals feel tiiat the Bill ' is directed specially against the series of popular political dramatisations sponsored bv their Party. Tolerantminded members of the Labour caucus itself first raised objections to a clause which prohibits any national or commercial station from broadcasting a dramatisation of any political matter current during the preceding five years. The present Bill is the latest move in a struggle which has been going on almost as long as commercial radio in Australia. The existing Act was strong enough to enable the Postmaster General some years ago to put a Labour station oft the air without explanation. Observers believe tliat were it not for Section 93 of the Constitution, which is the main stumbling block to the Bank nationalisation plans and which lays down that Federal Government cannot interfere with interstate trade, the commercial stations would have been taken over long ago. The recent Government decision to limit the use of frequency modulation to the national stations lias also been interpreted as a move to subjugate commercial broadcasting. "Impartial regulation of broadcasting in the national interest is one thing,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald.” "What the Government is proposing is quite another. Mr. Cameron makes it quite clear that the function of the new board would be to carry out plans approved by the Minister. All too obviously, suclt powers could be employed for most ruthless discrimination as well as suppression ot news and comment." The "Telegraph" repeats the assertion of Mr. Fadden, leader of the Country Party, that the Bill has the Goebbels touch and tiiat it is an elaborate means of banning rival political propaganda.