Private Role In Broadcasting

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 1

Private Role In Broadcasting

(From Our Ou>n Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 24. A remit seeking the inclusion in National Party policy of private enterprise participation in commercial radio and television was carried by a small majority at the National Party conference last evening.

The remit sought to ensure that control of such broadcasting should remain in New Zealand hands, that monopoly control should be avoided, and that the Government should make provision to maintain “high and acceptable standards” for programmes.

Moving the remit, Mr G. F. Gair, a Dominion councillor, said: “We are a private enterprise party, and our annual conference is the time and place to show the people we believe in private enterprise.” In 1965 the National Party conference rejected a remit urging the Government to ■ allow private enterprise to operate a second television channel.

Mr H. L. Street (North Shore) said the aim of the remit was based on very sound principles that private enterprise would achieve higher standards of production.

A Rangiora delegate, Mr R. H. Bowron, opposing the remit, said he did not believe that this venture would improve television programmes and in any case this was not the right time to make a decision on it. Private radio and television had to rely entirely on advertising, which he believed would gravely deteriorate the programmes. Private television could develop into “a maximum corn contest,” he said.

Mr Bowron suggested it would be difficult to control any private television mon-

opoly. Overseas, newspaper groups were often in the forefront of television and radio. A conference committee sought an alteration in the licensing of radio and television stations as fixed by the Government in the 1961 Broadcasting Act. A remit favouring an independent board of control for the licensing and supervision of all broadcasting came from the Sydenham electorate. In spite of arguments that the N.Z.B.C. was already an independent organisation, and gave “impartial” coverage, the committee was virtually unanimous in its support of the remit.

The committee’s recommendation will be submitted to the full conference tomorrow.