This series contains booklets published by the Australian Broadcasting Commission, based on transcripts of their regular radio talk program, 'Nation's Forum of the Air'. 

According to information located in Volume 4/A of this series, the Nation's Forum of the Air was first planned for in 1939. The idea was derived from America's 'Town Meeting of the Air', but owing to war, the first session was not held until 2 August 1944.

Until June 1946, the Forum was held every two weeks. Then the broadcasting of Parliament on the ABC made re-adjustment of the program necessary. In July 1946 a full time organiser and chairman was appointed (working within the ABC's Talks Department) and from 14 August 1946 until the program's conclusion, the session was presented weekly during the periods Parliament was in recess.

The following passage from Volume 4/A gives an indication of the nature of the content of the Forum: 'In introducing...the Nation's Forum of the Air, the Australian Broadcasting Commission aims to provide a new opportunity for the public discussion of great national
issues. The leading speakers are men and women who, because of their special training, or their representative cpacity, are the best people available in Australia to discuss the subjects with which they deal.

'Most living issues are controversial and the Commission recognises that if these sessions are to be pungent and real, they must be conducted in an atmosphere of frankness and freedom. The Commission hopes that the Nation's Forum of the Air will make a useful contribution to the creation of an active-minded and informed democracy.'

The booklets contained in this series give a full description of each broadcast of the 'Nation's Forum of the Air' including all speeches, discussions, interjections, etc. The booklets contained in this series were available to the public at a price of 3 pence per copy. Some of the subjects debated on the Forum include: 'Should Japen be Re-armed?', 'Should Migration be Cut?', 'What Should We Do With our Old People', 'Women's Emancipation - Is It Real?' and 'Does Radio Help or Hinder the Child?'.

Given the nature of the program, the 'Nation's Forum of the Air' was an unscripted program, but from 1944-1955 it was recorded on tape and transcribed. The practice was discarded in 1956 and thus no scripts of the program are available after 1955.

All items from this series have been listed on the Archives' item level database.

 
Administrative information

Archives file number:     RWS50/4/19