Report of the Juvenile Delinquency Committee

John Stuart Mill · en
"(iv) Opportunity was taken at a conference in Wellington at
        the end of last month of the senior programme organizers of all
        stations throughout the country to discuss fully their
        responsibilities towards the matters raised in the Committee's
        report. They also discussed the draft of a revised code of
        instructions to auditioning officers and others, and this code
        is now being circulated.

        "(v) An extension of present procedure on popular song records
        was decided upon for Head Office auditioning officers. Records
        will be wholly rejected, or passed for general use, or passed
        with the reservation that they are to be programmed with
        special care (i.e., as to time placement, frequency, etc.)."

        "The following further action is to be taken:

        "(i) The issue of the code referred to above will give effect
        to the Service's desire for the consistent wholesomeness of
        programmes, the need to aim constantly to maintain standards in
        programmes of all kinds at the highest appropriate level, and
        the need to exercise discretion in programming material which
        might be rendered objectionable by repetition, inappropriate
        time placement, or standard and style of performance.

        "(ii) Some of the dramatic features at present running will be
        reauditioned if it is thought that they may be out of tune with
        the present atmosphere or the revised time classification. Even
        with additional assistance this task may take about six months.
        There may be some financial loss if many episodes are to be
        discarded or if the withdrawal of episodes or alteration of
        time classification creates difficulties in providing
        replacement programmes at short notice for sponsors. It is
        relevant here to note the difference between ourselves and film
        or book censors. After censoring we must ourselves face the
        financial result of our actions and the administrative
        difficulty of finding substitute and less objectionable
        material.

        "(iii) Suppliers of transcribed programmes in Australia are to
        be advised of the implications of the report so far as it is
        likely to affect our future purchasing policy.