FREEDOM OF THE AIR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 107, 22 May 1937, Page 16

FREEDOM OF THE AIR

— Presi Association.)

Subsidies for B Stations Urged FARMERS' CONCERN

iBy Teleeraph

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A stand for-freedom of the air was taken by the Auckland conference of the • Farmers ' Union after a discussion on the control of radio transmission by the Government. Members expressed concern at the possibility that political control would dominate Tadio broadcasting, and that B class stations should be compulsorily sold by their owners. A remit urged that all branehes should demand from their district members of Parliament that the Government. should subsidise B class stations, and that they should be accorded the same freedom of expression as that granted tho Press. . The urgent necessity for maintaining these stations free from political control and for securing for them greater power for transmission was urged. The conference also expressed the opinion that a danger existed of broadcasting propaganda facilities becoming the perquisite of any political party. It was, therefore, suggested, that the national stations should either maintain a strictly non-party attitude or be not used at all, directly or indirectly, for political purposes. If this was not possible, it was recommended that time should be allotted to all political parties anl persons requiring radio for political reasons of consequence. This provision, It was maintained, could be made feasible by the use of special B class stations. The utmost concern was voiced at free stations being taken compulsorily by the Government, and the conference demanded that some at least should b'fr tdlowed to remain open.