FIRST DIFFICULT MONTHS

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 7

FIRST DIFFICULT MONTHS

THE BROADCASTING BOARD 1 POSTMASTER-GENERAL TO HELP. TELEGRAPH OFFICER AS MANAGER By Teleiraph.—Press Association. Last Night. Mr. H. D. Vickery, chairman of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board, stated, to-day that the Postmaster-General had indicated his intention of assisting the board in every possible way during the first few difficult months. Arrangements have been ma<J.e f°r Mr. E. C. Hands (principal of the telegraph division of the G.P.0.) to act in the capacity of general manager to the board until further notice, and the services of the other officers of the Post and Telegraph 'Department will be placed at the disposal of the board when required. Mr. Vickery added that the appointment Of the board so close to the holidays had made matters a little difficult, but with the co-operation of the Post-master-General - and his department smooth service throughout January would be assured. MEMBERSHIP OF THE NEW BOARD THE TERMS OF APPOINTMENT The appointment of the three members of the Broadcasting Board was announced on Saturday, provision to this end having been made in the Broadcasting Act passed during the recent session, of Parliament. The remuneration of the chairman is £650 a year, and that of the two other , members £3uo each. ■... Mr. Vickery will hold office in his capacity as first chairman of tne board for a period not exceeding five years, but subsequent appointments to that position will be for a period not exceeding ihree years. Of the other two members, Messrs L. R. ■C. Macfarlane and G. R. Hutchinson, one appointment is for four years and the other for three years, but subsequent appointees will hold office for three years. Members are

eligible for reappointment. When the Bill was before the Hous* of Representatives, the Hon. A. Hamilton stated that the purpose of the advisory council was to.give the listeners some say in the control of the broadcasting system. It was intended that the council should hold its inaugural meeting shortly after the board took over the system, and advise the board as to the best policy to pursue. Thereafter it could meet once a year or more frequently if desired when questions of importance had to be decided. The council would be a valuable adjunct in view of the criticism- it could offer and the advice it could tender, and it would be of particular use from the point of view of the listeners. There is provision in the Act for the appointment by the board of standing or special committees, and these will take the form at the centres, where the main stations are established, of sports committees, entertainment committees, education committees, and committees of others whose advice will »• available in the preparation of the programmes. PROMINENCE IN PUBLIC LIFE. The three members of the board have all had experience in various capacities.’ Mr. Vickery is a public accountant of - Wellington, where he has been practising for the past 22 year's. For -a number of years he. has acted as an examiner in accountancy subjects for the University of New Zealand. .He is connected with a number ofcompanies, in , eluding Matters. (N.Z.), Ltd., B. L. Hart and Co., Ltd., and the Paparoa Coal Co., Ltd. Mr. Vickery acted for the Government on the committee for the revision of the Companies' Act. For 10 years he • was secretary fop'the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, and he was the first secretary of the New Zealand Associated Chambers ofi'Commerce. Last April Mr. Vickety Was appointed a member of the Earthquake Adjustment Court. ’ Mr. L/ R. C. Macfarlane, who is a farmer at Culverden, is president Of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He is also president of the Royal Agricultural Society. For many years past Mr. Macfarlane has taken a prominent part im farmers’ movements, and is well-known as a successful agrituralist. At the 1928 general election .■ he unsuccessfully contested the Hurunui seat in the Reform Party’s Interests against the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes. '. • Mr. George R. Hutchinson is the managing director of Hutchinson’s (Wholesale), Limited., He" is chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, and a member of the Auckland Transport Board. He was a member of the Graftbn School Committee 38 years ago, and a member of the Mount Albert Road Board 36 years ago. He also served on the Edendale and Birkenhead school committees. Mr. Hutchinson was.elected to the Auckland Harbour Board 18 years ago. He has been a' member of the Auckland City Council, and was at one time chairman of the tramways and waterworks committee. He left New Zealand as & captain in the Army Service Corps in 1915, returning after four years’ service with the rank of major.