DEMAND FOR RIGHT OF REPLY TO FEDRATION'S STATEMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1947, Page 8

DEMAND FOR RIGHT OF REPLY TO FEDRATION'S STATEMENT

—Press Assooiation

Negotiations For Use Of Australian Broadcast

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. Oabinot Minister 's aetion in using the national radio network to pubJish a statement by the New Zealand Eederation of Lahour in Ihe wharL' . dispute on Monday. has raise.d a question over the iVeedorn of the air. The Waterside Workers' Union, on learning of Ihe broadcast, immedintcly asked for similar facilities on the air to state its ease. This request lias been refused. The Director of Broadcasting (Air. Shelh-y) has tohi the union he has no power to accede to Uie request aiid that commercial stations are not perinitted to sell timo for the broadcast of controversial issnes. The union is novv arranging for tiuie on the Australian stations to broadcast from there to Ihe ]ieop!e of New Zealand. "We do not bbject to the Eederation of Labour enjoying. the opporlunity to put a statenienl: over the air because we have sup])orted the clainis whieh Ihe trade union movenient has been making for a long titne now foi* sjrace on Ihe broadeasting networks," said .Mr. T. Hill, national sec.retary of the union tonight. "The union is naturally astonished, however, that it is not allowed the right of reply whieh is snrely a privilege we can expect in a dciiiocratic. country. "This is an issuc qiiite apart from our present dispute, and it is oue whieh 1 know will vitallv concern everyone. If last Monday iiight's broadcast has opened tlie door to controversial liroadcasts 1 belicve many people in this country will be very hapjiy that it should do so. From many sections of the eommunity, in ])articular the ti'ade union movenient, there has been a longstanding demand for Ihe restoration of I'recdom of discussion on Ihe air. lt will be an intelligent step forward if we can lct our broadeasting system be uscd for this demoeratic purpose. "If, howcvor, wo are to be denied the right to as mueli timo as the Eederation of Labour was given, then however much some scGions of the eommunity may dislike and continually oppose the watersiders they will appreciate at what a disadvantage we are boing ])laccd. We would not be fighting this very serious hattle if we did not have a very real eause to* uphold. AVe are forced, therefore. to seek an opportnnity to broadcast our case from Australia to the people of New Zealand. AVe are still negotiating there for time, and if the opportnnity preseuts itself and we are still faeed with the necessity to do so we shal'l make a broadcast and invite New Zealandcrs to tune in. "It would be a sad thought, however, that the voice of democi'acy should have to eome to New Zealand from 'without. This is a vital issue. " Air. Hill has been in constant touch with the Federal rouncil of the Australian Waterside AVorkers' Union, and was today again in conversation by radio-telephonc with Australia niaking preparations for a broadcast from Sydney. It is nnderstooil that the union plans to make the records in Wellington for the broadcast.