BRITISH BROADCASTING

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1926, Page 9

BRITISH BROADCASTING

REGULATIONS ATTACKED DISCUSSION IN COMMONS ARRANG EMENTS TEN TA TIVE By 'ilegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Nov. 16, 7.30 p.m. London, Nov. 15. In the House of Commons, the Post-master-General in explaining the new broadcasting arrangements, said the agreement with the news agencies and newspapers continued until further discussed, but he was not prepared to say that broadcasting could be held down by hard and fast restrictions such as the expiring agreement contained. The corporation must not be put in a .position of privilege, but it must enjoy equality. A general debate upon the vote of £295,000 for the broadcasting service followed. Mr. C. G. Ammon (Labour, Camberwell) twitted the Government with being forced willy nilly along the road to socialism, while Mr. E. A. Harney (Liberal, South Shields) declared that the Government’s scheme was socialism pure and simple. A great new industry would be compelled to stock monopolistic material, and in a decade .would be hopelessly handicapped. Viscount Wolmer, Assistant PostmasterGeneral, in replying, said that the Government had not closed its mind regarding broadcasting. This was a controversial matter, but the Ministry felt that the present principle should be maintained. The vote was passed and the House adjourned.