POPULAR INNOVATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26630, 28 November 1947, Page 6

POPULAR INNOVATION

CONTROVERSIAL BROADCASTS CLAIM BY MINISTER P.A. WELLINGTON. Nov. 27. The response to the introduction of broadcast discussions on controversial subjects indicated that they were fulfilling a widespread wish, said the Minister in charge of broadcasting, Mr Jones; to-day. One country woman, added the Minister, had written to say that after listening to the broadcast between 8.20 and 8.50 p.m. she and her husband had carried on their own discussion of the topic, "equally entertaining and indecisive,” until 11.30. “ When this effect becomes general, the object of the service will have been achieved,” said Mr Jones. The purpose of the series was to quicken and enlarge listeners’ own thinking. Competent disputants were chosen, but> it had been found unwieldy to accommodate more than five speakers in a half-hour session—four, with a neutral but well-informed chairman, seemed to be the most workable panel.

“ Even the most critical listeners recognise that the broadcasting service is feeling its way in this new field,” said the Minister. “A considerable amount of experimental work was done before the series began, and early next year stations in other main centres will introduce discussion periods.” Various styles of presentation were being tried, involving a varying degree of preparation. To make the panels as representative as possible, speakers were, assembled sometimes from a wide' radius. “ While this will often necessitate the recording of sessions in advance of their broadcasting, it widens the of profitable discussion, and brings the service yet more closely into touch with the people,” continued the Minister, adding that recorded discussions had the merit that they could be used from several stations.

“ In order to preserve the choice for listeners who are not interested in the discussions, the YA stations wifi not be linked for these sessions, but will broadcast them at different times,” Mr Jones said. “Minor stations may ’be brought in on a link.” Next Monday evening the topic for discussion would be “ Farming and the 40-hour Week,” with speakers drawn from Waikato, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Horowhenua and Wellington, and, in view of the special interest to country listeners, stations at Napier. New'Plymouth and Gisborne would be linked with 2YA. The broadcast would be repeated "from Auckland on December 30.