BREACH OF DUTY ALLEGED

Southland Times, Issue 23584, 11 August 1938, Page 6

BREACH OF DUTY ALLEGED

IMMEDIATE INQUIRY WANTED MR FORBES DISCUSSES NEED FOR IMPARTIALITY (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, August 10. , The view that the broadcast on Sunday evening over the commercial radio stations had proved that the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting, Mr C. G. Scrimgeour, was not fit to hold his position, was expressed by the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (Nat., Hurunui) in the House of Representatives yesterday when he moved the adjournment of the House to enable members to discuss the matter. The reasons given in

the motion were that the House should have an opportunity for discussing the misuse and abuse of the broadcasting service and Mr Scrimgeour’s broadcast in particular. Mr Forbes said he was moving the motion for the adjournment in the absence of the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, and personally he regretted the necessity of taking such a step in regard to the actions of a public servant. The Opposition had no personal feeling against Mr Scrimgeour, but it was strongly held that the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting had been guilty of a distinct breach of the privileges and duties of a public servant. RESPONSIBILITY OF MINISTER “There have been instances in the past where public servants have been severely criticized in regard to the administration of their departments,”

said Mr Forbes. “However, it has always been the custom both here and in Great Britain that the Minister in charge of the department should accept the responsibility of seeing that his officers are protected from unfair attacks and unfounded • criticism. A member of the Public Service certainly has no right to make public statements with regard to his own actions unless he has the approval of his Minister. “The public servant is there to carry out his duties faithfully and impartially," Mr Forbes continued, “and it is not for him to show any particular favour for or against any section of the community. It is our duty as members of Parliament to see that this standard is maintained. If public servants get into the position where they feel that they are entitled to take sides there can only be serious deterioration.”

MANY COMPLAINTS RECEIVED Mr Forbes said the broadcast to which members of the Opposition took exception was given over the commercial stations on Sunday night, and since then he had received numerous complaints from people who were not associated with politics, but were astonished that such a speech could be put over the air. Exception was taken not only to the matter of the speech, but also to the language used, which was most unseemly for an officer in a responsible position. Anyone in charge of a broadcasting service had to be doubly careful to discharge his duties with the utmost impartiality, but when one found that a public servant was making use of a State service to call someone outside “an unmitigated and malicious liar,” the position demanded instant action. _ “I do not care who this outside person may be, or what he might have said,” Mr Forbes continued, ‘but I am concerned that a responsible officer

should set himself up as a judge and use a public broadcasting service to state his own opinions.” TARGET OF ATTACK Mr Scrimgeour’s reference had been to a man named Mr Justin Power, Mr Forbes said. Mr Power had apparently advocated the setting up of a royal commission to investigate commercial broadcasting, which he had described as the greatest “racket” in the world, with political propaganda disguised as a religious service. When Mr Power’s charge was made it was no defence for Mr Scrimgeour to say “Ybu and the gang who employ you are unmitigated and malicious liars.” “That reference was to the party of which Mr Hamilton is leader,” continued Mr Forbes. “I am not here to defend Mr Justin Power or anyone else, but I say that the remarks were a reflection on men who have not used any language of that description. They refer to men who are on the executive of the National Party, and that represents a quite unwarranted attack on decent people. Coming from a public servant, such statements do not show that impartiality or conception of duty which we are entitled to expect.” DEMAND FOR INQUIRY “The suggestion that there has been muddlement in the department is not new,” said Mr Forbes. “We asked for a royal commission last session to investigate the broadcasting service. We knew of the rumours and statements that were being made about the commercial stations. I do not say whether or not any truth would be found in the suggestions, but in the interests of the service any doubt that exists in the mind of the public should be cleared away. “We cannot have the matter brought before the public in the way it has been,” said Mr Forbes. “I say the Government will have to go further. The statement in the broadcast that someone is an -unmitigated liar does not clear the matter up, because the people will begin to ask whether there is any foundation at all for the statement. An inquiry into the whole service is infinitely more justified today than it was before. I suggest to the Prime Minister that he should give it very serious consideration indeed. USE AT ELECTION TIME “I can’t help feeling,” said Mr Forbes, “that, as we are coming on to the election, and as feelings are getting aroused, the service may be used in a very unfair and one-sided way.” The warning bell went at this stage and Mr Savage rose to move an extension of Mr Forbes’s time. Mr Forbes thanked the Prime Minister, but said he did not propose to use more than his half-hour. However, he asked that the debate might be allowed to go on in the evening if necessary. Mr Savage: You can debate it further on the discussion of the estimates. I don’t think we need a never-ending wrangle. The Hon. P. Fraser: It has never been done before. Mr Forbes: I remember one debate being carried well into the evening when there was a question of rmemployment. Mr Fraser: It was well justified then. Mr Forbes: The Prime Minister may consider an extension later on. CHANGE IN CONTROL NEEDED “The question of broadcasting is one that raises many problems,” said Mr Forbes. “Over the air it is possible to do grave hurt to a person without bringing the statement under the law of libel. It is of the very greatest importance that the man who is placed in charge of the department should be fully responsible. Whether this gentleman is allowed to continue in, charge or not, the Prime Minister must admit that some change in control is needed. This broadcasting will be used to a greater degree as we come nearer to the election. There are a great many people who feel that the air is not the place for party politics, and I agree with them. “I hope the Prime Minister will realize as head of the broadcasting service that we are quite justified in raising this matter,” said Mr Forbes, “as it is one of first public importance. The spirit and traditions of our parliamentary system should be maintained. This broadcast was a gross breach of that tradition.” SUPPORT OFFERED TO MR SCRIMGEOUR WORKSHOPS EMPLOYEES AT OTAHUHU (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 10. The position of the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting (Mr C. G. Scrimgeour) was discussed at a meeting of employees of the Otahuhu railway workshops. It was agreed to send a letter of support to Mr Scrimgeour, requesting him to resume his talks over the air as soon as possible. The following resolution was carried: This mass meeting representing 1500 Otahuhu workshop employeescalls upon the Government not to accept the resignation of Mr Scrimgeour.