13 OCTOBER 1950, Page 3

The controversy about the B.B.C.'s prompt accesion to the Daily

Herald's demand that the television repeat per- formance of Party Manners be banned continues. On the virtues and vices of the play there may be room for differ- ences of opinion, but the B.B.C. evidently thought in the first instance that the virtues predominated, or the play would never have been put on'at all. Now what matters is to know who took the decision to cancel the repeat performance, and why, and whether any representations on the subject emanated from any other source than the Daily Herald. Mr. Clement Davies' letter to the Postmaster-General calling for a full enquiry is very much toothe point. The matter clearly will, and should, be discussed in the House of Commons. I have not seen the play myself and, in spite of the unfortunate impression recent events have created, the possibility that the conclusion that there are real objections to its presentation by the B.B.C. may be justified must be recognised.