PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20989, 16 December 1939, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

NEW RADIO STATION

GOVERNMENT AND CRITICISM

As expressed by correspondents whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility. Correspondents are requested to write in ink. It is essential that anonymous writers enclose their proper names as a guarantee of good faith. Unless this rule is complied with, their letters will not appear.

(To the Editor) Sir, —Permit me to break the silence that has fallen on the controversy over the erection of a commercial radio station at Auckland at a cost of £70,000 or £BO,OOO by again asking why the Government has not given a more adequate explanation of its decision, and why the public has not insistently demanded a review of that decision. In the next few months substantial amounts of sterling exchange will be expended on this unwanted luxury while others go short of ordinary requirements. Sporadic outbursts of objection to the expenditure have been heard throughout the country and even the Government cannot doubt that a vast majority of the people are strongly opposed to the project, and yet the Government is going calmly ahead with the work utterly regardless of the people’s wishes. “Uncle Scrim” wants the building, and that, apparently, is sufficient warrant for the Government.

The frigid silence with which the Government has met all protests has apparently broken the back of the objectors, and so the expenditure will go on. Why should the Government be .so out of touch with and so unsympathetic to public opinion? Has it had a single word of encouragement from the people to go on with the work? However, “ Uncle Scrim ” has won the day, and henceforth he will be surrounded by greater luxury when he delivers his Sunday night messages to the people. Perhaps it is well that the foul unventilated air of the old building should no longer be allowed to interfere with his eloquence.—l am, etc., LICENSE FEE. Hamilton, December 15.

(To the Editor) Sir, —I think that the Government’s propaganda expert, the controller of commercial broadcasting, did his party more harm than good the other night in reading out the criticism of the newspapers of the Government way back in 1890’s. It showed that this present Government is not the only one that has been criticised, but from the squeals that have been put out one would think that other Governments had received nothing but praise. This gentleman, who one night stirs up class hatred and strife and the next night preaches friendly sentiment with honeyed words, is like the Cabinet members. If he can think further back than the depression it is way back to the days of Richard John Seddon, who is supposed to have done more for New Zealand than about ten other Prime Ministers just because he happened to be in office when the time was ripe for those in New Zealand to reap the reward of the excellent work done by the pioneers. According to members of the Labour Party, New Zealand was stagnant except for the last five years—made possible by the way the .National Party pulled this country through the depression —and when R. J. Seddon was in power. I would just like to hear this propaganda expert and his henchmen read some of the leaders from the papers in 1931-32-33, and then their supporters would, hear how the National Government was attacked and criticised by the free press in the interests of all the people. Very little was ever heard about this as the National Party had a job to do in the worst years lor iracung tne world has ever experienced, and they did not squeal about criticism as this Government is doing. If a Government inherits a balance of £44,000,000 overseas, then enjoys the most prosperous conditions for trading for five years, and then finds itself in the position the New Zealand Government is in today—despite the warnings of the wiser members of the community—then surely it deserves to be criticised.—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY. Hamilton, December 12.