Minister Stops "Social Justice" Sermon

Chronicle (Levin), 13 February 1948, Page 6

Minister Stops "Social Justice" Sermon

— — — , • Press ASsodation)

(Per

, , ■ AUCKLAND, Feb. 12. Indignation at the aetion of the Minister of Broadcasting in stopping the crusade for social justice se^ion, part of the Sunday night programme from the commercial statiohs for 10 years, was expressed by the direetor-of the organisation, Mr. Brian Dunningham. . He said th'e Director of Broadea9ting, Professor Shelley, had advised him that; after Jast Sunday the session woujd he replqced by, a new featuve known as' ' ' Citizens' Forum ' . The Minister of Broadcasting had terminated the social justice session in spite.'of the fact that it had been a focal pojnt; of interest for 10 years for church leaders of all denominations as well as maiiy large organisations and thousamls of individual pepple working. fosocial justice, said Mr. Dunningham. Representations to the authorities to retain tho present session and to have the ''Citizens' Porum" put on at some other timo, had been txnsuccessful. ' ' For some time our scripts have beori subject to very severe censorship," Mr. Dunningham continued. 'Preedom of the air has been reduced to almost a farce on many occasions. " The Minister 's decision had come lilte a bolt out of the blue and social justice scripts were to have gone forward for approvSfl following -the date of .suppression by the 'Minister. These included broadcasts by the Dolninion president of the Second N.&E.F. Association, tnoderator of the Auckland Presbytery, Dominion president-elect of the Metho dist Church, Wellington City Missioner, Mayor of - Auckland and Eev. Jasper Calder. ■ '