RADIO ANNOUNCERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26397, 27 February 1947, Page 6

RADIO ANNOUNCERS

PLAN FOR TRAINING STRENGTHENING OF STAFFS PART-TIME ENGAGEMENTS An indication that the announcing staff at Station 4YA is to be strengthened as a policy of training new appointees is fulfilled is given in a statement by the Minister of Broadcasting, Mr Jones, in reply to questions put to him by the Otago Daily Times. The Minister said that the New Zealand Broadcasting Service recently advertised for applicants desiring appointments as announcers. The response was substantial, and the applicants, who are spread throughout New Zealand, were now receiving preliminary auditions. “ There is at present one permanent staff announcer in Dunedlin,” his reply continues, “an at an early date another officer, who has been undergoing a course of training in Wellington, will be transferred to Station 4YA. It is hoped to strengthen the announcing staff further as new appointees become trained.” In reply to an inquiry regarding the inducement offered to qualified men to seek a career as announcers, it was explained that the rates of remuneration paid to announcers were determined by the Consultative Committee which sat recently in connection with the salaries to be paid to public servants and which made its recommendations to the Government. Salaries in the Broadcasting Service were therefore fixed by the Public Service Commission. Slow Return to Full Strength “Under the rehabilitation privileges afforded to members of the public service who served with the forces,” the Minister continues, “ officers are entitled to certain leave privileges in addition to their right to return to the positions which they previously held. Several announcers have exercised their rehabilitation rights to the fullest extent, and consequently the return to the normal pre-war staffing position is slower than observers without a full knowledge of the facts might expect.” . Discussing the use of part-time announcers, the Minister states that the service maintains that there is an advantage in using q proportion of part-time announcers because the practice made it possible to use persons who might have good announcing qualifications but did not wish to take up full-time announcing work. Variety of Announcers

“It seems reasonable that local persons whose gift is the possession of a good speaking voice should be given some broadcasting opportunity, as is the case with local singers,” the Minister continues. “ The use of parttime announcers also offers an opportunity to the service to give listeners a greater variety of announcing voices than would be the case if full-time announcers only were employed.” It was urged on the Minister that it would be a fitting gesture to Dunedin and to the famous Dunedin-bom conductor, Warwick Braith waite, who is coming to New Zealand under contract to the National Broadcasting Service, if his first appearance in the Dominion were made in this city. ' That would not possible, the Minister states, because the National Symphony Orchestra will be performing in another centre when the conductor arrives in New Zealand.

It was originally intended that his tour should open in Dunedin, but as Mr Braithwaite entered into engagements in Australia which would delay his arrival in New Zealand, it had not been possible to adhere to the original plan. Concerning Dunedin’s musical programme for the centenary observances next year, the Minister adds that the Broadcasting Service has not yet been approached by the Otago Centennial Committee. When such a move was made officially it would then be possible to consider the extent of the help which could be given to the committee.