Dr. Llewellyn Chosen To Head Broadcasting Corporation

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29760, 1 March 1962, Page 9

Dr. Llewellyn Chosen To Head Broadcasting Corporation

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 28.

A university administrator and two business men will, form the triumvirate which will control broadcasting and television in New Zealand from April 1.

They are Dr. Frederick John Llewellyn, of Wellington, who will be chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation, and Messrs James Alexander Stenberg, of Auckland, and Reeves Harris, of Christchurch.

The appointments were announced in Auckland today by the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Kinsella).

The three were selected under the terms of the Broadcasting Corporation Act passed by Parliament last year.

Mr Kinsella said he started considering candidates to head the corporation in July last year. ‘Originally I had 40 names. Half these people were ruled out for various reasons such as business commitments. It was only three weeks ago that the final selection was made.” he said. “I think the names of the members were one of the best-kept Government secrets for years. ‘‘There were no leaks and speculation was well off the mark.”

Onerous Decision

Mr Kinsella said radio and television were powerful media and the decision on who should be directly responsible for development could not be taken lightly. ‘‘lt was not just a matter of picking three men of high

individual calibre and integrity,” he said.

‘‘We must also have represented the widest possible range of experience, abilities and interests without prejudice for or against any one of the many fields which are the concern of broadcasters." Mr Kinsella said the Government was most fortunate in its choice.

Dr. Llewellyn would have a vast knowledge of the workings and problems of a large organisation as well as a diverse background in education.

Messrs Stenberg and Harris were extremely able men of affairs with experience in business, technical and cultural fields. The salaries of the members were not disclosed by the Minister.

He said they would come

before Parliament in the estimates of expenditure. This would enable Parliament to discuss the corporation and its running at all times. Mr Kinsella said the job of the corporation members would not be full time. “They will be busy for the first few months, but after that will probably meet only once or twice a month.” First Tasks

Mr Kinsella said that one of the first jobs of the corporation members would be to appoint a director-general. The present Director of Broadcasting (Mr G. H. Stringer) was occupying a “caretaker” post. Mr Stringer was appointed by a warrant from the Minister and not through normal Public Service methods. “I did this so that the corporation would be free to select the man it wanted when the time came for the changeover,” said Mr Kinsella.

“I will probably soon extend Mr Stringer’s warrant for another six weeks to two months so there won't be any hiatus between change from Government department to corporation controL” The corporation members would have drafts ' before them of suggested ways of retaining broadcasting staff and salaries to be paid, continued Mr Kinsella.

He expected that they would be kept busy for the first three months at least with this problem. So that Parliament could at all times discuss the running and control of radio and television the annual salaries of the corporation members would appear on each year’s estimates of expenditure. But all salaries to the staff of the corporation and terms of employment would be private. If they were made public it would be the decision of the corporation board members.

Private Stations

Mr Kinsella had nothing to say about the possible licensing of private radio and television stations. “I don’t want it to appear that I am influencing the corporation in any way in this matter. If and when private stations are allowed it will be the decision of the corporation,” he said, Mr Kinsella emphasised that the corporation would be entirely self-supporting. For many years the Broadcasting Department had not had any money to run its services from the public purse. It now had a building fund reserve of £1,700,000. This year the gross profit from radio and television should be about double that of last year. Last financial year the department paid out £206,000 in taxation. This time taxation would be about £400,000. Television’s Prospects Television during the last year had paid its way on gross takings. It would make a small loss after taxation was paid. However, it would make a full profit next year when all stations operated a full 12 months. Mr Kinsella said that he had asked Post Office engineers for a report on the posibility of the coaxial toll cable being used for television services.

When originally designed the cable could take television on the 405 line British system. Now New Zealand had adopted the international 625 line system.

With modifications it would still be possible to use the coaxial cable. However, the demand on toll services had by far exceeded original estimates. It would mean taking out 600 ordinary toll lines in the cable to provide for television.

“It may be more economic to install some other method of transmitting television overland than by using the coaxial cable,” said Mr Kinsella.