DRASTIC BAN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 127, 15 June 1937, Page 4

DRASTIC BAN

Censorshlp of Talks from B Stations THREAT T0 LICENSEES The appeal made by B-class broadcasting stations fdr the support of their listeners toward securing^ an adequate State subsidy for earrying on their popular services has brought about a orisis in the situation. Following refusal to allow the proceedings and speeches of the listeners ' mass meetings at Dunedin and Auckland to be bro&dcast, a letter has how been received by the B ^ stations from the Difector of Broadcasting forbiddihg the broadeastriiig of any further alinouilcement or talk relatmg to the Governmeilt's broadcasting policy ntlless the sciflpt is first submitted to the Dilector of Broadcasting for appfoval. The f.ull text of the letter is as follows: — jlear Sir, — In view of the action of some private broadcasting stations iin broadcasting adVertising matter, I am directed by the acting-Minister in Charge of Broadcasting to infonn you tliat , euch broadcastte are proMbited under the provisions of section 14 of the Broadcasting Act, 1936, and must Cease immediately, otherwise action will be taken in accord&nce with sobsection 2 of seCtion 15. In view also of the nature bf some other matter that is being brofideust from some B stations, I am further directed to draW youf attention to seo; tloh 15 Of the Act. I ain to say that fotthwith the heriot of any proposed ahnouneement Or talk haviiig any feference whatever to the Government 's policy ia connection with broadcasting must be snbmitted to this ofiice for xpproval. This refers aot only to matter it is proposed to broadcast from studios, but also to matter it is pro* posed to relay from any public meeting. I should be glad if yoti would aeknowledge as soon as possible tho rfeceipt Of this notification.— Yours faithfully, JAMES SHELLEY, Director, Proviaion of Act Olause 2 of section 15 of the Act, quotod by the director, reads as follows:— "Upon receiving a report by tho Minister that any licOnsee of a private broadeasting station has failed to comply with any prohibition of condition with respect to its, programmes imposed by the Minister pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this section, the Minister of Telegraphs, with the approval of the Minister charged with the administration of this Act, may canccl the licence of the licensee, or may take 'such other action as may be prescribed, or as may be considered necessary for the purpose of eDsuring eompliance with any such prohibition or condition "