Dismissals led to TV inquiry

Press, 27 April 1984, Page 3

Dismissals led to TV inquiry

Wellington reporter The Commission of Inquiry was prompted by events in March, 1983, when two performers in the television programme, “That’s Country,” were dismissed by the Broadcasting Corporation after conflicts between them and the production staff. This led to allegations of “improprieties” and “mismanagement” in various areas of the corporation’s work, and led to a call by Labour’s spokesman on broadcasting, Mr J. L. Hunt (New Lynn), for a full public inquiry. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Broadcasting Corpotation, Mr lan Cross, appointed a committee to make an internal inquiry into aspects of the administration of TVNZ’s entertainment division. This made a number of recommendations about “That’s Country” and fither matters, some of which

have been acted upon by the Broadcasting Corporation. A full text of this internal inquiry is published, for the first time, as an appendix to the Commission of Inquiry’s report. When set up in September, 1983, the commission was given three, among other, terms of reference. They were to inquire into:— • Allegations of impropriety in contractual arrangements between the Broadcasting Corporation and its employees, and the manner in which these employees carry out their duties. • Allegations of unfairness by the Broadcasting Corporation in dealing with persons seeking engagement as performers or to place advertising. • Whether the Broadcasting Corporation’s contractual arrangements and dealings with prospective advertisers were appropriate for a broadcasting service.

The central conclusion of the commission was that many of the problems it examined were the direct result of weak management — especially in TVNZ — in an inappropriate management structure. “The stronger personalities of the head of entertainment, Mr Tom Perkinson, and Mr Trevor Spitz (associated in the production of ‘That’s Country’ and manager of Miss Suzanne Prentice) have been able to overcome the authority of the Director-General of TVNZ, Mr Allan Martin, and his subordinate, the controller of programme production, Mr Rod Cornelius,” the commission said. Neither Mr Martin nor Mr Cornelius had “demonstrated an adequate capacity” to use the authority and responsibilities conferred upon them in their position. Both had seen fit after receipt of the “Houlihan

letter” to actively seek change in the board direction promulgated by order of none less than the chairman, Mr lan Cross, and meantime to ignore it, the commission said. (The “Houlihan letter” of September 16, 1983, was issued on the instructions of Mr Cross and contained some of the recommendations of the internal inquiry.) “Mr Martin’s blind support of producers and of the head of department, and his

lack of supervision of delegated duties, led to his ignorance of what was going on in major areas of TVNZ,” the commission said. “However, to be fair to him, on the evidence we have heard he received little or no valuable support from his deputy, the controller of programme production, Mr Cornelius.” Evidence indicated difficulties arising from a con-

flict of authority between the local manager in Christchurch and the production management of “That’s Country,” the commission said.