Mr. Fraser To Have Last Say On Radio

Chronicle (Levin), 21 October 1949, Page 5

Mr. Fraser To Have Last Say On Radio

WELLINGTON, Oct. 20. Tlie arrangements made for election broadeasts were objected to by members of the Opposition during eonsideration of the supplementary estimates in the House of Representatives tonight. Strong exeeption was taken to the fact that the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was to have the whole of the election eve broadcast to himself. 1 The subject was raised by Mr M. H. Oram who moved that the supplemeniary vote for the broadcasting account be reduced by £5 as a protest at the arrangements that had been made. Mr Oram said the action of the Prime Minister was quite in keeping 'with the i-ecent statement of th-e Min- ' ister of Transpopt that the main purpose of the Labour Government was to ikeep in oftiee. The Government elaimed broadcasting was a public utility and that it belonged to the people as a whole. If that were so then the arrangements should be made with scrupulous fairness. Tn 193S the then Prime Minister, the late Mr Savage, had arranged that he and the Leader of the Opposition should share the final night. The same arrangement was made in 1943 by the present Prime Minister but in 1946 the Prime Minister took the whole of the final night because he feared imminent de t'eat. Exactly the same was being dorie l this time. It was not equitable, it was not British fair play and it was not cricket. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Nordmeyer, said that the member for Manawatu was as well aware as anyone of the normal practice of debate, that the mover of a motion had the right of replv. Successive speakers would take part in the elec tion broadeasts, a Government speaker one night and an Opposition speaker next and so forth. The Opposition would have the same number of speakers as the Government and the Prime Minister would wind up that the Government "possessed the confidence of tre country." Obviouslv some one had to have the last say whether two took part in the fina. broadcast or not.' Both sides had the same opportunities on the air. The Government was giving the Opposition full facilities to present its case. It was desirable in the national interest that the Prime Minister should reply to the extravagant statements so often made by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr W. A. Sheat (Patea) said the arrangements were a gross misuse of a national utility. The Minister of Industries and Commerce wanted the Prime Minister to have an unfair ad vantage. Surely on the eve of an election both parties should- stand on a basis of equality before the electors. H.j was surprised that the Government had the "hide" to infliet this abuse_ of the radio and it action would be widclv resented. . The amendment was defeated 34-33.