REPLY TO CRITICS

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1937, Page 12

REPLY TO CRITICS

N.Z. Radio Policy MR SCRIMGEOUR’S CHALLENGE. [Per Press Association], AUCKLAND. December 12. A statement that he would resign his position and would give £5OO to any organisation nominated if any of the charges levelled against him concerning the Friendly Road Movement and his appointment as director of Commercial Broadcasting could be proved before a responsible body of citizens, was made by Mr C. G. Scrimgeour when sneaking at the usual anniversary gathering of the Friendly Road Movement at the Auckland Town Hall to-night. Mr T. T. Garland Dresided over about 300 persons. Mr Scrimgeour recalled charges of corrupt practice, irresponsible actions, and incompetency, which, he said, had been made from time to time in relation to his handling of his job as Controller of the Commercial Broadcasting Service. Members of Parliament had not spared the rod when speaking under the cover and privilege of the House. A certain newspaper had made extravagant charges, and had demanded a Royal Commission, but in the House members had confined themselves to referring to these allegations, and although they had been challenged to make charges themselves, none had been forthcoming.

”1 will challenge any of those parties accusing me of all these terrible crimes to prove any one of them before a responsible body of citizens, and, if proof be forthcoming, I will not only resign my position as Director of Commercial Broadcasting, but I will also make a donation of £5OO to any organisation nominated,” Mr Scrimgeour continued. The same newspaper had alleged that Mr John Stannage, of Stannage Radio, Limited, was acting as a “dummy” for him, and that there had been corrupt practices between Mr Stannage and himself. Mr Scrimgeour continued. He had also been accused of malpractice in association with other firms who had dealings with the commercial broadcasting service. Another allegation was that he had “pocketed” a sum of money totalling £5OOO, which had been paid over for Station IZB. Actually, the amount which had been paid was £2100: Of that sum, practically all had been required to meet the liabilities of the station. Personally, he had not received a penny, Mr Scrimgeour concluded.