SCRIMGEOUR CASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 23 June 1943, Page 4

SCRIMGEOUR CASE

GOVERNMENT ACTION CRITICISED (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. Referring to the Scrimgeour case in the House of Representatives last night. Mr W. A. Bodkin (Nat.. Central Otago* said that the Controller of Broadcasting, who had recently had his appointment terminated by the Government, ha J been engaged because of services rendered to the Government. “I claim his was a political appointment and the Government knew it.” He said Mr Scrimgeour had suddenly become less popular with the Government, but it was contemptible and disputable for the Government to shelter itself behind the Army to get rid of the controller. It w*as the Government's plain duty to have dismisised its officers When the acting-Leader of the House Mr D. G. Sullivan, rose to a point of order and asked whether it was competent for Mr Bodkin to use the words contemptible and despicable as applied to the Government's action. Mr Bodkin immediately withdrew the statement unreservedly He added that when Mr Scrimgeour had had his dispute with the Government, four trade union bosses were called in to make a settlement that was an unheard of procedure. INDISPOSED AT PRESENT Wellington. This Day. Mr C. G. Scrimgeour, former Controller of the National Commercial Broadcasting Service, did not enter camp yesterday as was intended. He is temporarily indisposed, and a medical certificate concerning his condition has been accepted by the military authorities. , He will ente camp as soon as he is fit again. P.A.