Party Leaders On TV

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 1

Party Leaders On TV

(.Veto Zealand Press Association! WELLINGTON, July 20. Three television programmes, each lasting 30 minutes, during which the leaders of the three major political parties will appear separately to answer questions from the public, will be a highlight of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation’s plans for broadcasting pre-election material.

The chairman of the N.Z.BC., Mr C. A. McFarlane, said that official figures from the 1963 General Election showed that almost 99 per cent of the votes went to representatives of the National, Labour and Social Credit parties. As these parties obviously had the overwhelming support of the electorate, the corporation’s duty was to provide them with the fullest opportunity to present their policy, and it was considered that the allocation decided on would amply meet this requirement

Mr McFarlane said there would be 23 sound radio broadcasts covering 10 relays from public addresses, three 30-minute studio addresses and 10 10-minute studio addresses.

The allocation of the relays from public meetings would be four National, four Labour and two Social Credit Each of the three would give a 30-minute studio address to close the campaign.

The 10-minute addresses would be divided equally by National and Labour. In addition radio would carry

sound tracks of some of the television programmes.

On television, the National and Labour Parties would each receive 50 minutes, to be used as they chose, and Social Credit 20 minutes on the same basis.

Apart from three “election forum” programmes for the party leaders, two “question time” programmes would be carried in each television region.

They would be of the same duration and the party representatives would appear on the same programme to be questioned by a panel. r