MR SCRIMGEOUR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3894, 26 April 1937, Page 5

MR SCRIMGEOUR

“.PRE-ELECTION SERVICES.” METHODS OF APPOINTMENT. “Mr Scrimgeour is paid the price of his services for the Government before it was a Government,” said Mr J. Hargest, M.P. for Awarua, when criticising the method of appointment ot Mr C. G. Scrimgeour as controller of commercial broadcasting, in an address in Hamilton. Mr Hargest pointed out that in the present system of broadcasting in New Zealand Mr E. C. Hands, the general manager, was receiving £l2OO as salary. Professor Shelly received £l5OO a year, but Mr Scrimgeour, who was only a department manager, virtually subordinated to Mr Hands, was to receive upwards of £BOOO a year until the figure was revised this week to £l5OO a year. ‘ This reduction was partly due to the Opposition who insisted on a lower salary," added Mr Hargest. "What qualifications has Mr Scrimgeour for the position? He has had no experience in commercial broadcasting. If the Government had wanted an experienced man it would have had to apply overseas,” he continued. Mr Hargest said he personally went to some trouble in the House to obtain particulars as to whether the position was open for applications. Mr Savage had replied that no applications were called as the Government wanted a good man and got the one they wanted.