Disruption of TV2 show now unlikely

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 6

Disruption of TV2 show now unlikely

Prospects seem bright for agreement over wages and! conditions for actors, sing-' ers. and dancers allowing! production of South Pacific Television’s “Opportunity Knocks” to proceed as planned. Negotiations between the Broadcasting Corporation and Actors Equity will resume in Wellington today. 1 “South Pacific Television! has given a commitment to I. I abide by the spirit of t he between Eouityland the Broadcasting Cor-; Iporation and that has stabil-l iised matters overnight.”' Isaid the national vice-, president of Equity (Mr {Gerard Bahlman) last evenling. ; The programme manager! for S.P.T. (Mr Maurice! Smyth) would not comment! on the negotiations, but said rehearsals for “Opportunity! Knocks” had proceeded ini preparation for recording the! show in the Civic Theatre; this evening as usual. As a result of talks; yesterday, an understanding aimed at a stay on any further action by Actors Equity in Christchurch in the meantime had been reached, said the industrial officer for the B.C.N.Z. (Mr J. Lafferty) last I evening. This would enable steps to, be taken to resolve the!

difficulties and there vas Igood faith on both sides. 'said. I The threat to “Opportune jity Knocks" comes aftej cancellation of the television ; comedy series, “Fullerj ! Earth.” when the cast re» fused to perform in the piloj show. The issue came to a heaj ;when Actors Equity alleged ithat a newly negotiated pay ■ agreement with the singer, dancers on “Top of rhy ■World” had been broken by 'the producer (Mr Tom Park. I inson). The company members of "Top of the World" say tha| they had been told by South Pacific Television that evej :if the producer’s offer had I been accepted, the pro. Igramme would have closed idown because of over, spending in other areas. i They said the dispute over wages was cynically used as a smokescreen for mana, gerial incompetence. ; The dispute was vital to iall performers, it was said, because S.P.T. was attempt, ing to invalidate the entity television agreement, forcing performers to subsidise it; operations, and allowing in. competence and an interna; power struggle to kill the ■ best show of its kind to b; iproduced in New Zealand.