DROPPING THE FETTERS

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 29, 25 January 1935, Page 5

DROPPING THE FETTERS

NE of New Zealand's youngest and most. practical thinkers, Mr. Leicester Webb, of Christchurch, and ‘political lecturer from 3YA, has been having something to say in Melbourne. about the personnel of our Government. He claims that the standard of education of Members of Parliament has decreased, the average age of politicians has increased and that the number of professional men entering political life had waned considerably. At the same time the number ef shackles imposed by the Government on industry and endeavour had been increasing, a vivid example of this being the restrictions placed on the wireless programmes arranged by the New Zealand Broadcasting Board. The board's task has not been an easy one for, when it assumed office some three years ago, it found itself confronted by a set of ‘‘Thou shalt not’s" so wide and varied that the framing of an effectual policy was. extremely difficult. Gradually many of the fetters have been swept aside, but there is one yet to goone that the listening public is anxious to see broken. That is the ban on controversial matter on the air. The sooner broadcasting is allowed controversial freedom the sooner will the microphone attract the intelligent and thinking men of the Dominion.