Fiji B’casting Commission

Some Doubts About the Fiji B’casting Commission

SUVA, September 29 The Government proposal to establish a Broadcasting Commis sion in Fiji to take over from the Fiji Broadcasting Co. (an offshoot of AWA) came under heavy fire at the recent session of the Legislative Council.

The Bill providing for the new set up has now been referred to a spec ial committee.

Sir Alport Barker in debate, main tained that the Bill meant the setting up of a Government monopoly in broadcasting. This had been denied by the Government earlier, but Sir Alport said that the Governor would have power to replace members of the Commission and to prohibit the broadcasting of material.

The senior Indian member (Mr.

Vishnu Deo) supported the Bill, which, he said, gave the Governor some power of control but did not authorise him to control the activ ities of the Commission.

Mr. Deo added: “This Colony consists of people speaking three different languages. These people must be looked after without racial bias or discrimination. We cannot afford to build three separate stations at £40,000 each.” This was in reply

to Sir Alport’s statement that a good deal of broadcastng time was already devoted to non-English (Fijian and Hindustani) broadcasts, although many members of these races under stood English.

Mrs. Milne, Sen., of Christchurch, NZ, was in September, spending an extended holiday with her son, Dr.

Graham Milne, on Niue Island.