ROYAL COMMISSION SUGGESTED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 36, 5 November 1937, Page 5

ROYAL COMMISSION SUGGESTED

-Press Association. l

Inquiry Into Broadcasting Control MOTION LOST IN HOUSE

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. The House of Repf esentatives continued the second reading discussion of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill after 2 a.m., when the following amendment was moved by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates;— "This House is of the opinion that, in view of the fact that the veracitv and integrity of public men have been questioned. the Bill should not be proceeded with until a Royal Commission has reported to the House on the following questions: "(1) All matters of broadcasting poliey affecting the national and commercial stations aud B stations, with full details' of the purchases of private stations. "(2) All matters with regard to the jamming of 1ZB in November, 1935. "(3) All the circumstaqcee leading tip to the appointment of the present Controller of Commercial Broadcasting. •' (4) Business associations, agencles, and financial transactioas entered into with respect to the commercial broadcasting stations. ' ' The amendment was seconded by Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat., Otago Centrai) but was lost, on being put to a division, by 40 votes to 15. *The second reading of the Bill was passed by 40 votes to 15 at 2.10 a.m., and a cOntinuation was made with the committee stages of the measure. The Leader of the Opposition stated Chat they had had a pretty good day, and he asked the Prime Minister if he intended to proeeed with the committee stages or let members get home and Iiave some eleep. The Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage replied that he wished to get the Bill through the committee stages in view of the fqct that the session would only last some five weeks now and that they still had a great deal of work to do. If theygot through the committee stages now tho third reading would be taken on Tuesday, The closure was applied on the short title at 3.12. a.m. When clause 2 was reached Mr J. Hargest (Nat., Invercargill) moved au amendment designed to place the control of all broadcasting under the director. The amendment was defeated by 39 votes to 13. A further amendment was moved by Mr Hamilton to the effect that applications should be called before the Con* trolier of Coinmefeial Broadcasting was appointed. This was also defeated by 39 votes to 13. Mr Bodkin moved that a new clause should be added to' the Bill to reduce radio licence fees to 20/--The Minister of Finance, thc Hon.^ W. Nash, contcnded that Mr Bodkin 's motion was not in order because there was no provision in the Bill for tha fiving of fees. The Chairman of Committees, however, ruled that the motion was in order and that the fees could be fixed in the Bill before the House. The motion was defeated by 40 votes to 15 and the Bill passed unaltered through the committee stages. At 4.40 a.m., when the House adjourned until 10.30 a.m., it' was annpuneed that the third reading would be taken on TuCsday night, when the Post-master-General will reply to fhe points raised in the debate. , a . '