Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 16 January 1945, page 1


LABOUR TAKES

OVER 2HD

---<>---

NEWCASTLE, Monday.—First official announcement that sta-tion 2HD would be operated in future in the interests of the Australian Labour Party was given by the Premier, Mr. McKell, to-night, in opening the station.

"I have been assured by the direc-tors," said Mr. McKell, "that it is not proposed to flood the air with politics. The voice of the people will be heard. The station will be available to state the case for the masses when vested interests attempt to distort the facts.''

The Premier added that educative and musical programmes would be given, and important Labour and in-dustrial news announced. By friendly arrangements with the Churches, there would be religious broadcasts on Sundays.

Station 2HD was formerly controlled by Jehovah's Witnesses, but was closed down about four years ago when action was taken against the society under the National Security Regulations.

The decision to buy the station was made by the A.L.P. executive, and officers raised the necessary money. The main shareholder is Station 2KY, which is owned by the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council.

The directors of 2HD are Messrs. F. Kelly, M.L.C. (president of the A.L.P.), J. Stewart, M.L.C. (secre-tary of the A.L.P.), R. King, M.L.C. (secretary of the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council), B. Beaver (manager of 2KY), W. Taylor (senior vice-president of the A.L.P.), D. Mul-cahy, M.P., and S. Fox.