RADIO MUSICIANS

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1930, Page 4

RADIO MUSICIANS

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES. APPLICATION TO COURT. ' Claiming that concert artists and orchestras were being engaged at less than the award rates, Mr. A. Tongue, secretary of the New Zealand Performing Musicians’ Federation, sought in the Arbitration Court at Christchurch on Tuesday to have the New Zealand Radio Broadcasting Company, Limited, added as a party to the award. Decision was reserved. ( Mr. Tongue said a certain local dance orchestra had been engaged to broadcast, as had also a concert trio. The concert artists had been paid less than award rate a night. He understood that concert artists were engaged for the evening, not for one or two items. Mr, D. J. MacDonald, acting secretary of the Canterbury Employers’ Association, ' said an arrangement was made with the leaders of orchestras to play certa.' items at a certain cost. With regard to the dance orchestra referred to the same procedure was followed. The dance orchestra was a party tp the award it was true, but the company had no knowledge of how the payment was divided among its members. A similar arrangement was made with the trio at its own request. Mr, A, R, Harris, general manager of the Radio Broadcasting Company, said the pianist was engaged under contract for the session. The number of items was not specified, The pianist was required to play such items and accompaniments >as were necessary. Pro©mw. HP- wMa

ahead. If through the indisposition of another artist the pianist were required te play a solo not specified in the contract, he had the right to refuse. Pianists often did so, maintaining that they were not ready. Mr. Tongue asserted that the artists were at thp beck and call of the comw>. &£ ® U J&fe ife

some artists could not perform, others could ba called upon to fill the pr®gr jLr. l Harris admitted that the pianist had to be on call all the time during * session • . ,3 His Honour said the -question would receive