N.Z. Radio Programmes Are Severely Censored

Chronicle (Levin), 18 January 1949, Page 5

N.Z. Radio Programmes Are Severely Censored

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON. .7 tui. 17. Seven (-ommandmcnts whit-h ensure that ihe Xcw Zealand broadcasting pro grainmes are aniong the least offensive anl mo$t severely censored 111 the world, wero outlined tmlav by an 0 111 cial of the Xew Zealand Hroadcastiiig Bervice. "All programmes sulnnitted to the servire froni overseas 'are vetted befoiV going 011 Llie air ■ in Xew Zealand. Serials which .have been, broadcast in many countries are subjec.ted ,to furt'her cntting. " said the otiicial. He wtis coninienting 011 recent reports frotti Hondon which stated that the H.B.C. was takiri" crlme serials and horror [irodnct '1011s oir the air. ".The prograninies frequently have to be eut to' eliniinate undesirable portions, " he said. " We have. in many instances. toned down vnry realistic trtjatnient ot sordid incidents in overseas serials and plays. We have otten declined to aceept serials which we folt emphasised ■ the sordid sido oi' lit'e and highlighted 1111 necessary criniinal action. While we have no ban on crinie sdrials, 0111 andition stafl' is as eareful as possiole "111 screening nndesiralile material Kvery progrannne broadcast is andi tioned before being passed for use. "Xo fixed rules are laid down regarding ihe eensorship of crinie serials but broad general principles are ad herei'l to. Eaeh programnie is judged 011 its nierits. " The staff wliich lieard the progrannnes watehed for the following se\ en points, contiaued the oflicial: Scenes depicting the actual commis sitjii of inurders or the application of lorture, lioggings and beatings, wero not allowed over the air. The over emphasis 011 marital discord was also barred. Lxtreme care was also taken with programmes whicli secmed to eulogise criininals or the commission of a criine. Stories depicting racial or religious bias and. in fact, any aspect likelv to oll'end any particular section of the coiiimunity, were also delicately handled. " We take great pains to ensure that we never 'guv' any member of a religious order, " said the otficial. " I11 similar fasliion, the police always catcli the criniinal and are never depieted as being too slowT for the wrongdoer. ' ' Where personalities are eoncerned, the andition staff is eareful to see that the storv is, as far as possible, autheutic and tme to fact. "The unnecessary use of swear words is also banned. " Broadeasts in some countries on oecasious featured the " grand guigno " type of production dealing exclusively and realisticallv with concentrated horrors of erime, said the offieial. This type of production was not allowed in Xew Zealand. The trouble with radio was that broadcasters could not choose their audience and the audience could not immediately choose their progrannne. "Some plays or serials might even, after tliey had been passed by the auditioning' staff, make some impression upon children. We take care to present these productions later at niglb wlien children are supposed to be in bed. Psychological horror serials are definitelv out." It was not desirable to present many classical plays which were recogjiised masterpieces of the stage. " Theatre audienees go prepared for inurders or brutal -scenes but when they were heard in the intimate surroundings of the home, the effect of brutalitv or horror was intensely magnified, ' ' lie said.