LABOUR CLAIM

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1932, Page 2

LABOUR CLAIM

FOR EQUAL FACILITIES. TO BROADCAST SPEECHES. WELLINGTON, November 17. That the right to broadcast political information should be conceded to both sides was claimed by Mr Leader of the Opposition, in the House yesterday. Mr® Holland : protested against use of (broadcasting facilities by one side only. An amendment; to reduce the vote was defeated by 40 votes to 24. Mr Holland said he had no objection to any member of the Government speaking over the a i r so long as the same right was extended to the Opposition. He moved that the vote be reduced by £1 as an indication that the right to broadcast should b e conceded to both sides of the House and not confined to the Government paity alone.

Speaking at a later stage', Mr Hamilton was drawn into som<> cross-talk with M'i* 'Holland as to whether *Mr ■Coates, in connection with hie Ottawa broadcast, had been required to hand in a written statement before delivery of his speech. The Minister said he coujd not say for certain. Mr Holland : I don’t think Mr Coate s was required to do so. The Minister: There was no political meeting. He was making a public statement as he was leaving New Zealand.

Mr Holland : Would Ibe given the same right? The Minister: I think it would he considered. I don’t think the statement made by Mr Coates before he left for Ottawa was T’ry controversial. It is a different matter broadcasting a public meeting. M r Hamilton added that there was no dt'ii’e to .prevent the public from getting information. The broadcasting of political meetings was a matter to be considered. There was, perhaps, no particular reason why they should not be broadcast, but there was a question as t° whether the people who paid fees would listen in and have their time taken up in that manner.