Is this Fair Reporting?

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 15, 23 October 1931, Page 5

Is this Fair Reporting?

Two Versions of What Mr. Hamilton Said

LISTENERS in Wellington have become aware in the last few months that an extremely partisan attitude on the radio question has been adopted by the "Bvening Post." We give below, side by side, the report of the speech by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in reply to Saturday’s deputation, as culled from the two Wellington papers, and invite readers to compare the two and note the significant omissions from the "WHvening Post’s" report :-

From the "Evening Post." In reply, the Minister said he was glad to have the deputation express its opinion, which would be available to Cabinet when it was reaching a decision. He did not know whether the public realised to the full the importance of that decision. The Government fully realised the possibilities of broad- * casting, which were enormous and might well play an important part in the social and educational life of the people. What the Government had to decide was whether broadcasting was to be controlled by a company or a Governmentappointed board, and it was just a question whether a company could provide a better board of management than the State. He did not want to express his personal opinion at that stage, as he anticipated that Cabinet would reach a decision over the week-end. He could assure the deputation that all aspects of the matter would be very carefully considered before a decision was reached.

From "The Dominion." Mr. Hamilton said that he realised the importance of the points the deputation had raised. He realised that broadcasting had an important future, but the question of control had not yet been definitely decided on. It seemed strange that broadcasting control had not settled down to uniformity throughout the world. Dr. Sutherland: It is settling down now. The present company had taken a great risk in investing in broadcasting when it did, Mr. Hamilton said, and it was entitled to some consideration. Its license expired at the end of the present year, and it was not asking for'a renewal. What it was asking for was control by a public company. Professor Robertson: that would still be private control. Mr. Hamilton: "It would be control by a company of which half the shareholders would be listenersin." Whether the Government could nominate a better board of control than the listeners-in could was a question Cabinet hoped to decide during the week-end. He hoped to be able to make an announcement at an early date.