PROTEST TO THE GOVERNMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23181, 23 April 1937, Page 6

PROTEST TO THE GOVERNMENT

Mr Scrimgeour’s Appointment APPLICATIONS NOT CALLED FOR AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (Special to The Times) 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 an announcement that instead of receiving a salary of £5OO a year, plus 7| per cent, commission Mr Scrimgeour was to be paid a salary of £l5OO a year. “I wish to draw the attention of members to the fact that the Government has made this appointment, carrying with it a salary of £l5OO 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 Scrimgeour’s merits or otherwise, but 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 be that there are some men with more experience and higher qualifications for the position. I 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 getting the salary of a Cabinet Minister must have qualifications.” Mr Jackson: What are they? Mr Lunn: I do not know. Chorus of members: Nor do we—or anyone else. . Mr Jackson: I am not attackmg the man, but the principle is at stake. ‘"Hie 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 I think, however, that we are all of one mind on the matter.” The motion was then put and carried unanimously

ATTACK BY MR HARGEST REDUCTION IN CONTROLLER’S SALARY (Special to The Times) AUCKLAND, April 22. “It was I who asked the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) after the appointment of the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour as Controller of Commercial Broadcasting was announced whether tenders were called for the position,” said Mr J. Hargest, M.P. for Awarua, in an address at Hamilton tonight, when he attacked the Government’s methods of letting contracts and appointing officers. Mr Savage had replied that no tenders were called as the Government wanted a good man. Good or bad, said Mr Hargest, he was getting a salary four times that of the Prime Minister at all events. Under this system of appointment Mr F. C. Hands, who was general manager of the Broadcasting Board, was appointed at £l2OO, Professor Shelley at £l5OO and Mr Scrimgeour at about £BOOO. His salary has since been reduced and I think we may claim some of the credit for that. . “What qualifications has Mr Scrimgeour got,” asked Mr Hargest. None in commercial broadcasting. If the Government had wanted an experienced man they would have gone overseas.

EDITORIAL COMMENT ATTACK ON PRESS RECALLED (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 22. The Auckland Star tonight says editorially: “The Postmaster-General and the acting Minister of Broadcasting (the Hon. F. Jones) have made a statement about the salary of the Director of Commercial Broadcasting. He is to receive £1599 a year 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 the 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.”