Freedom of the Air

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20119, 13 December 1939, Page 14

Freedom of the Air

Sir, —So “Labour,” after all these months of silence, has come to life again and attempts to defend Mr. Nash with what he calls “facts.” He must surely think that no one but himself listened to the famous radio debate or he would not try and put across such a distorted version. Since everyone knows what took place, I am not going to argue, but I would like to point out that the antagonism shown towards Mr. Nash was due to his refusal to answer the reasoned criticism of his opponent and to resentment at the operation of his guaranteed price scheme. Ido not agree with heckling at meetings, but if “Labour” is so much offended by this lack of “British fair play and sportsmanship,” why is it that, in the hundreds of letters he must have written, he never objected to the same tactics whenever an opponet of the Government tried to hold a meeting? The only thing in my letter that really mattered was the reason why no oppent of the Government had since been allowed on the air, and this is the one thing “Labour” avoids answering. Since he has come into the open again, why did “Labour” dodge “Fair Play’s” letter, which was a much better one than mine? Does he believe in the freedom of the air and justice to all, or does he think it is right that the radio for which the people pay so heavily should be monopolised by the Labour Party Ministers? RADIO.