EARLY HISTORY OF DISPUTE OVER BROADCASTING

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1947, Page 8

EARLY HISTORY OF DISPUTE OVER BROADCASTING

■ " -Press Associaiiorv s

P.v TpJp.riranh—

W ELt J!J'G T0'N , , Jan,n0v \ T ( is- k.HO\yn, fh«t Wafcrsulf Workers' "I'nloli e.\lUiVtivV'' Aftt(rtcli«s niucli imporl.'ince to this activity. A reporl .from Auckland yostorday attri lnil (>d to ihe niitional president of the Waterside I'nion (Mr. IT. Harnes) the statement thal Ihe national oflice of Ihe union in Wellington had applied to pundia.se time on tlie commercial broadcast network to present the case to tlie jmblic, and had desired Ihe time equivalent ' o that given to the Minister of l.n I mu r ( M r. .\fc Lagan ) on . M onday iiiglit. The report said that Mr. Barnes had siated he had learned froni "Weliington that the application was refused. Further a-dvice from Auckland today said that the Minister of Finance (Mr. Xush) and the Minister of Broadeasting (Mr. Joncs) both said later that no sncli request had been received. The Ministers were not available at lnnchtiine today for an explanation of the circunistanees. There is a chance that' the union may approach an Australian station to broadcast its case but in that event it is doubtful if the statement would be heard by many New Zealand Jisteners. Tlie idea is for union speakers to "cut" records in Wellington, and send thenj to Australia. The idea at least suggests that public opinion is a factor. The national secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. T. Hill) said that he had reeeivej the following re-j plv from the broadeasting authorities: 1 "I have yonr letter of the 7th in whieh vour desire to purchase time on the commercial stations to state the union 's case to the public. We regret that we eannol make time available under sponsorship for the broadeasting of controversial issues. " Mr. Hill said the letter- was signed by the Director of Broadeasting (Commercial Division). . n'here was a further letter from the Director stating: "We have your letterfor the eighth , requesting th'at your union be granted facilities on the air to reply to statements made on behalf

of tlie hrinister of Labour nnil the sec ret.ary of the Federation of Labour. 1 amuifeud 1. hayfy nq power !;o iie.c:edejm. -yoitr y%pies|Vi|i,dyhs. pointOd- otif iu ,4;U. .ol.hey • ietterL" cdntingrcial statifWis irffgFpennittecl to sxd'i tinie, even/ if j.wetscE aVaila ble,- for the broadcast t bvhat i cQtihl 'be: termed controversifil issues. " Air. Hill said he could nol understand ihe report published in Auckland that the Minister of Finance and tlie Alinis ter of Broadeasting did not know that sncli a request had been received from the union. Air. Hill said four mimites' lirne had been allowed ihe Union 011 an Aiistralian station