Radio Censorship

NZ Truth, Issue 1191, 27 September 1928, Page 6

Radio Censorship

/YN a recent evening, the return - ed soldiers of Christchurch tendered a smoke concert to Kingsford Smith and his companions. It was a decided success, which, word for word, sped out, via the microphone, on the cool evening air. At least portions of it did. The Mayor was there and told his favorite flsh story, which, to do his worship, justice, is a good one — as flsh stories go. Everybody was m a good humorin fact, a care-free collection of diggers who obeyed the chairman's "Order, gentlemen!" with the same grace as they lined up for their pay m days gone by. Naturally, a body of returned men are usually inclined to become reminiscent—especially after the eighth. This gathering was no exception to the rule. One of ttie speakers had just reached the essential point m, a story of Godley — of "Make them do it again, Alex!" fame— when, snick! the radio cut off and that old familiar voice from 3YA remarked: "The speaker is relating some personal, intimate experiences; so we will have a gramophone selection." We had the gramophone selection. . . . From then on, until the function closed, there were quite a few selections. One "off" period was quite unwarranted. A speaker was saying something about the Right Honorable Joseph Gordon Coates, Prime Minister. Like many of the things said in ' re Gordon, the remarks were far from flattering. The radio caught the start of it and— like the close of ; a perfect d a y_the words just faded; away. What, then, is -the position of the Radio Broadcasting Company? True, it is entitled to switch off if rank blasphemy rends the air. But there was none of this about the Coates interlude and certainly none — so far as was heard— about the "intimate' personal experiences.". What right has the Broadcasting Company to choke a perfectly outspoken opinion of the Prime Ministereven if it does ban the "experiences"? The Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Limited, is putting m some good publicity work for Gordon. The Prime Minister cannot go outside his gate without the fact being put on the air. And the recent high-handed censorship proves that the Broadcasting Company is riot its own master.