Minister's Comment on N.Z. Radio Programmes

Chronicle (Levin), 16 February 1949, Page 3

Minister's Comment on N.Z. Radio Programmes

The fact that broadcasting programmes in New Zealand were araongst j the ieast ottensive and most severely censored in the world and that 'some authorities considered this censorship was calried to ridiculous lengths, was pointed out by the Minister of Broadcasting (Hon. F. Jones) in a letter toi the monthly meeting of the Wanganui ( Education Board yesterday. Follpwing the board 's action recent,iy in drawing the Minister's- attention to Ihe cable news that the B.B.C. had decided to prohibit the broadcasting of murder* and crime pcrials, Mr. Jonesadvised that the Press had recently published the rules followed by the auditioning staff of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation Service when listuning to all items subniitted from overseas. "These," he said, "ensure that broadcasting programmes in New Zealand are amongst the least ottensive and most severely censored in the world. ' ' This was conlirmed by a competcnt radio critic, Mr. Cliarles Anderson, a fornier B.B.C. Seottish news editor, wlio, addressing the Hastings Iiotarv Club.re.cently, criticised the laclc of freeiloin in play scripts in the Dominion. He had stated that the B.B.C. permitted liiuch greater freedom and that anything tojicliing on the sordid side of life was cut out in New Zealand. E-idiculous Lengths. In particular, Mr. Anderson had stressed that even classics had been cut and that this was goiiig- to ridiculous lengths in the preservation of decency. "There are some plays or serials which might, even after having heen passed hy the audition officers, make some impression upon children, ' ' Mr. Jones continued. '-'In these cases every care is taken to ensure that these productions are presented at night when children are supposed to he in bed." The Minister eoncluded by inviting the board to conipile a list of progranimes which it considered not suitable for broadcasting from stations in the New Zealand Broadcasting Service and to point out specilically the portions to which it objected. The board resolved to refer the letter to school committees in its district.