DEBATES ON THE AIR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 208, 18 September 1937, Page 3

DEBATES ON THE AIR

Our Own Correspondent.)

Minister's Statements Me Challenged

OPPOSITION RIGHTS

(From

PALMFiRSTON N., This Day. LThe remarks of the Hon, P. Fraset in the House on Thursday night in which he claimed that .the Government 's policy of broadcasting Parliamentary debates was evidence of impartiality were exehanged by Mr. C. A. ' L. Treadweli in a political address at Rongotea last evening. Mr, Fraser's statement, like some. others made by Jhe Labour Party 's leaders, sounded all very well, but when performance came to be compared with promise the picture was a .very different. one, he said. Radio listeners could easily teli that, while tho Governmeut j did give "facilities for Opposition mem- | bers' speeches to go out over the air, ! the Government suppcrters in the ! House did all possible by way of interjecfion and points of oruer to prevent the points made by Opposition membera from getting home to those listening-in. This, he continued, was just another oxample of the, Labour Party 's practice of following round about routes to achieve its ends. It would be rememoered Lthat this same Mr. Fraser said iorne months ago the Labour Party had no intention oi interfering with the ilberty of the Press. That, of course, was a definite promise that no legislative action would be taken to impose a censorship and at the time the public were re-assured, But immediately following Mr, Fraser's statement, 'thera appeared in a trade union paper, which is not publiely circulated, a statement over the signature of Mr. C. H. Ohaprnan, M.P., one of Mr. Fraser's colleagues, that the time would probably come when printing trade workers might be asked to refuse to technically assist in ,the printing of - matter inimical to the Labour Party. On top of that, since his return from England, Mr. iSavage stated that some .of the privileges now enjoyed by the Press might be withdrawn if they did pot refrain from following a policy of crticising the Government. "Are not those statements indicative that tho Government is prepared to achieve by direct action and by intimidation something that it is not prepared to attain by censorship legislatota, whch would raise a storm from one end of the country to the other?" said Mr. Treadweli, who went on to remark that the Labour Party were evidently believers iu 'the old adage that there are more ways of killing a cat than by choking it with cream. - It was the same with Droadcasting, Mr. Fraser said, "We are allowing the Opposition speakers to speak over the air in Parliamqntary debates — see how fair we are?" — While his supporters in the House by their interjections did their bets to ensure that the effect of such speeches would be des'troyed. The speaker drew attention to the fact that the Opposition members gave the Labour speakers fair play and did not attempt to drown their remarks with interjections. It would appcar, he said, in conclusion, that Mr. Fraser and his colleagues have been so occupied in studying the doctrines of Karl Marx that they have iiot had time to make themselves acquainfed with the rule oi courtesy and British fair play.