MR. SCRIMGEOUR REINSTATED

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 March 1943, Page 4

MR. SCRIMGEOUR REINSTATED

MR FRASER’S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, March 5.

The Prime Minister (Mr Fraser)’ announced that, following an investigation and assurances that the National Commercial Broadcasting Service will be in accordance with the Government’s requirements, the suspension of Mr C. G. Scrimgeonr has been lifted. :

“Following upon the suspension of Mr C. G. Scrimgeour from his position ■ of Controller of the National Commercial Broadcasting Service, the Government has reviewed the situation which led to that suspension,” said the Prime Minister, in a statement to-night. “A recent broadcast by the Controller, on the National Commercial Broadcasting stations, gave rise to misunderstandings, which created a situation which left the Minister and the Cabinet no alternative but to suspend the Controller from his duties, pending an investigation, which has now been completed. The misunderstandings which led up to the suspension of the Controller have now been explained and removed; and the Government has received satisfactory assurances that the conduct of the National Commercial Broadcasting Service will be in strict compliance with Government policy. In view of the agreement now reached, I am pleased to announce that Mr Scrimgeour’s suspension has been revoked, and I have every reason to anticipate efficient and harmonious working on the part of the Commercial Broadcasting Service.” MR SCRIMGEOUR’S COMMENT

Asked for his comments on the Prime Minister’s statement to-night, Mr C. G. Scrimgeour said: “I am pleased to confirm the understanding to which the Prime Minister has referred, and I can assure the Prime Minister that I shall do all in my power to further the harmonious working of the service. I desire to take this opportunity to clear up the erroneous impression that may have been taken from my earlier statement regarding my suspension. In that statement, I suggested that, if the Prime Minister went to the country on a National Government platform, I might even stand against him. This, I understand, has been taken by some people as implying a belief, or an assertion, on my part that at the next general election the Prime Minister proposes to go to the country on a National Government platform. If such an inference has been drawn from my words, or if they were conjstruable as an attack on the Government, I very much regret it, for I certainly did not intend to convey any such meaning.”