£l5 A YEAR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 176, 22 April 1937, Page 10

£l5 A YEAR

Straight-out Salary for Mr. Scrimgeour COMMERCIAL RADIO Government Arranges New Agreement Initial revenue from tlie State’s first commercial radio broadcasting station at Auckland has been so much greater than anticipated that the Government lias reviewed tlie agreement originally made with tlie controller, Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, and fixed new terms of remuneration. Instead of receiving a salary of £5OO a year, plus 7J per cent, commission on radio advertising receipts, Mr. Sarimgeour is to bo paid a straightout annual salary of £l5OO. 2k. statement on the subject of Mr. Serimgeour’s position was made last night by the Acting-Minister Of Broadcasting, Hon. F. Jones. The Minister said: "It was as a result of knowledge gained from experiences in other countries where commercial broadcasting stations are controlled by private companies and individuals that the Government made provision in the Broadcasting Act of 1936 to prohibit advertising over the air except from stations which it controls. Subsequently, when it was decided to initiate commercial broadcasting in the Dominion, Auckland, being the largest city, was selected as the best in which ito make a commencement. Station IZB was considered to be of the class that could be most conveniently adapted for commercial purposes, and was duly acquired. Negotiations as to the price to be paid have not yet been finalised, and it will be necessary to have this question determined by reference to an independent and disinterested third party. Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour was appointed as Controller of the National Radio Advertising Service. “The method, of radio advertising decided upon was a new feature in New Zealand. Therefore it was impossible to foresee what the response would be. The controller’s remuneration was consequently tentatively fixed at £5OO per annum, plus a commission of 74 per cent, on business done, it being agreed that this question should be reviewed at the end of three months. The receipts from the business immediately forthcoming proved to be substantially larger than was anticipated, and Mr. Scrimgeour was offered and accepted a straightout salary of £l5OO a year as from April 1, 1937. “Mr. Serimgeour’s duties, of course, are not to be restricted to the control of advertising in the 2iuckland district alone, but are to include commercial broadcasting throughout the Dominion. The commercial service is now about to start in Wellington, and later will be extended to Christchurch and Dunedin.” AUCKLAND LISTENERS Criticism of Government By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, April 21. The executive of the United Listeners’ Club held a special meeting today and later issued a statement viewing with concern the failure of the Government to honour its pre-election pledges regarding B class stations. Both in written and repeated verbal utterances Mr. Savage and his colleagues had assured listeners that justice would be done to the B class stations. “The truth is that after 16 months no subsidies or assistance have been given in accordance with the election pledges and it now appears that an attempt is being made to eliminate them by Government purchase,” the statement continued. “This method of dealing with a major issue of the 1935 general election is exhausting the patience of listeners. The United Listeners’ Club asserts that the Government has no mandate from the electors to make broadcasting a State monopoly, and we are fully in agreement with the Hastings Chamber of Commerce that the Government should buy out no B station until the opinion of listeners has been obtained.”