B.C.N.Z. report released

Press, 30 April 1984, Page 8

B.C.N.Z. report released

PA Wellington The full text of his confidential report last year on the “That’s Country” internal inquiry was released for publication yesterday by the chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand, Mr lan Cross. The Commission of Inquiry into Broadcasting said last week that it was told that in August, Mr Cross gave members of the board of the Broadcasting Corporation a resume of the report only, and did not supply them with either an interim or the final report. “This we find a most unusual and an almost cavalier approach by Mr Cross to his board,” the commission said. "Even more surprising was the advice to us by the chairman that no board member asked for... a copy of the report.” Mr Cross said yesterday that he was taking the “unusual step” of releasing the full text, “so that the public may judge for itself whether the commission was justified in its remarks.” “Although I have some interest in defending my own administration practice, I am more concerned at the commission’s questioning of the board’s role in its response to the fuss over ‘That’s Country,’ he said. “In addition to receiving my report, the board spent an hour in closed session discussing it with myself and the director-general, Mr Allan Martin. “It later initiated further positive and far-reaching measures by a new appoint-

ment at senior management level within television and creation of an internal audit team to operate across the whole of the corporation. “The extraordinary irony of the situation is that some eight months later the commissioners themselves reach essentially the same conclusions as are spelled out in my report, and yet they criticise myself, the board, and the director-general for what we did.” The text of the main part of Mr Cross’s report to the board, dated August 5, 1983, follows: “On April 13 this year, after consultation with the director-general, I set up a committee of inquiry into various aspects of the administration of the entertainment department of Television New Zealand, arising from disputes surrounding the production of ‘That’s Country.’ “The committee comprised Messrs Barry Hudson (chairman), Alan Morris (who has extensive experience in light entertainment production), and John Knowles (Dunedin manager), with Charles Martin (Public affairs) as secretary. “The inquiry took longer than was anticipated because of the fact that a central figure was out of New Zealand. “I have received the committee’s report and had a meeting with the directorgeneral and controller of production of TVNZ and, with Mr Hudson, covered the state of affairs disclosed in light entertainment. “In brief, while the report found no evidence to support allegations of financial misdemeanour, it did find

highly unsatisfactory administrative practices, apparent conflict of interests between the private activities of several producers and their positions within TVNZ and undesirable conflict in the prouction of ‘That’s Country.” “The redeeming feature of the unhappy situation is that the unsatisfactory administrative practices within the department were right out in the open. “It is the director-gen-eral’s opinion, supported by my own observation of the man, that the head of the department, Mr Tom Parkinson, is a frenetic character, wholly immersed in the light entertainment business, a workaholic who achieves a great deal by personal involvement in much of his department’s output (including scriptwriting), and whose own entrepreneurial flair is something he likes to encourage in subordinates. “The result of his personality and drive is greatly increased output from his department, a predeliction for whatever is expedient to produce a result, and perhaps an underlying dislike at what may be seen as bureaucratic rules that are not part of show business. “Properly contained, all this is not necessarily an undesirable facet of the department’s character. “However, it has not been contained, and the directorgeneral and I have decided upon the following action in response to the recommendations of the committee... ” The report then dealt with recommendations and action taken.

Mr Cross said the internal committee made recommendations in respect of the situation in Christchurch, and he and the directorgeneral made certain decisions. It was recommended that the suitability of Mr Trevor Spitz for further employment by the corporation be considered. The decision was that Mr Spitz’s employment should cease on completion of the then-current series of “That’s Country,” and noted that this would mean paying him off for the rest of his contract, then to run until February. The committee made a recommendation in respect of Mr David McPhail. It said the range of activities undertaken by Mr McPhail prevented him for effectively fulfilling his duties as executive producer. The committee said it believed there should be an executive producer in Christchurch with duties defined so that the person holding the position could effectively carry out that function. The recommendation was accepted. Also accepted was the recommendation that where a person has a professional relationship with an artist taking part in a corporation programme, that person should take no part in the production. Another committee recommendation was that corporation staff, whether permanent or on a contract, should not be permitted to act as a manager or promoter of artists (whether singers, actors, dancers, or musicians.) This was accepted by Mr Cross and the director-gen-

eral, who also agreed that executive staff, permanent or contract, should not be permitted to enter contracts with the corporation to undertake additional duties for extra payments. The exception to this would be if such an arrangement were considered essential, in which case it should be approved by the director-general in consultation with the director of personnel.

The committee said staff released for work for others should be placed on leave without pay, and to this was added that a deputy should be appointed to act in their absence. The final recommendation was that the management structure within TVNZ should be examined. Particular consideration should be given to the relationship between the functions of heads of departments and local managers in the various centres. This recommendation was accepted. The internal inquiry report said the director-gen-eral was to consider the wider administrative requirements of the light entertainment department. The internal inquiry also noted: “The Bartlett-Dugan controversy has reached the point where they have given the corporation notice of their intention to take legal action in relation to their dismissal from the show. “The committee felt it inappropriate to report on these matters. Its view was simply that it considered that the dismissals were justified in the circumstances.” The report noted, “This Eaper will be supplemented y a more explicit verbal report on board day.”