THE ATTACK ON PRESS

Evening Star, Issue 22630, 23 April 1937, Page 14

THE ATTACK ON PRESS

NO DISCLAIMER BY GOVERNMENT SCRIMGEOUR APPOINTMENT CONFIRMED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROTEST [Pan Uwttbd Press Association.] AUCKLAND, April 22. Unanimously the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce decided this morning to protest to the Government against the appointment of the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour as controller of commercial broadcasting without calling for applications. The matter was raised by Mr Gainor Jackson at the conclusion of the business on the agenda ‘ paper, when he drew the attention of the council to the announcement that, instead of receiving a salary of £SOO a year plus 71 per cent, commission, Mr Scrimgeour was to be paid a salary of £1,500 a year. , • “ 1 wish Jo draw the attention or members to the fact that the Government has made this appointment, carrying with jt a salary of £1,500 a year, without calling for applications by public advertisement,” said Mr Jackson. “ This is wrong in principle, and I consider that the council might well express an opinion on it. I do not want to express any opinion on Mr Scrim - geour’s -merits or otherwise, hut it seems that an important principle is involved when the Government makes such an appointment without inviting applications for the position. It may well be that there are other men equally fitted for the position. It may he that there are some men with more experience and higher qualifications for the position. 1 do not know whether Mr Scrimgeour has any commercial experience at all.” Mr Jackson moved —“ That the Auckland Chamber of Commerce protest against the Government’s action in making the appointment without first publicly advertising for applications.” “Mr Jackson suggests that Mr Scrimgeour is not qualified for the position,” remarked Mr A. G. Lunn. “ Surely a man who is getitng the salary of a Cabinet Minister must have qualifications.” Mr Jackson : What arc they? Mr Lunn: Oh, I don’t know. A chorus of members: Nor do weor anyone else. Mr Jackson; I am not attacking the man, but a principle is at stake. “ The appointment has been made for some time,” the president (Mr W. R. Fee) pointed out. “ This is only an alteration of the terms of appointment. 1 think, however, that we are all of one mind on the matter.” The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The Auckland ‘ Star ’ to-night says editoriallv: “ The Postmaster-General and Acting Minister of Broadcasting (the Hon. F. Jones) has mad© a statement about the salary of the director of the commercial service. He is to receive £1,500 per annum and have charge throughout the Dominion. This means that he is confirmed in his position. No reference is made to the unprovoked attack that this official made on the Press of the Dominion at the beginning of the month.

“ The opportunity that yesterday’s announcement afforded to dissociate the Government from Mr Scrimgeour’s slanderous utterances was not taken. The obvious inference is that Mr Jones is in sympathy with this service, controlled by a Government employee, being used to abuse a section of the community. We have been waiting patiently for a Government disclaimer of its servant’s action, and we must now conclude it will not be forthcoming. This country will have grave cause to regret the monopoly of the air that the Government has seized if actions such as we have protested against are to be ,allowed to pass without any expression of Ministerial dissent or disapproval.”

[“lt looks also as if the stage is to be set up for the control of the Press,” Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P. for Central Otago, said in an address at Waipukurau on Tuesday night. “The Government is absolute master of the radio service, and, recognising that every dictator in the world has bad to muezle the Press, it looks as if something similar is .to be attempted in New Zealand. If such a censorship can he established it will no doubt serve the Government well when the real fight comes between tne Government and private enterprise. That will he the testing time, and it looks as if the Government in New Zealand is working to a. definite plan._ During next session, and probably during the life of this Parliament, it will be content to forge ifs weapons and protect its machinery. If successful at the poll next election, it will no doubt seek, to apply its legislation to every branch of industry. Those who have any stake in New Zealand would he well advised to take up the fight for private enterprise without delay.]