£8000 A Year.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19850, 30 October 1936, Page 3

£BOOO A Year.

SALARY AND COMMISSION.

WAS POSITION- ADVERTISED?

COMMERCIAL RADIO MANAGER. (By Telegraph.—press Association). WELLINGTON, Oct. 30. In an urgent question to the Minister for Broadcasting in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. J. Hargest (National, Awarua) inquired if the position, of manager of the Government's commercial radio stations was advertised, and, if not, if the appointment of the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour was made after consultation and with the approval of the Public Service Commissioner. Mr. Hargest added that if the advertising revenue were to aggregate £IOO,OOO a year, the manager's salary— £sooj plus 1\ per cent, on revenue —would opproximate £BOOO per annum. On what ground, Mr. Hargest asked, could the Minister justify a remuneration so greatly in excess of that given the heads of State Departments having far greater responsibilities?

MR. SAVAGE'S REPLY. POSITION NOT ADVERTISED. "Applications were not called by advertisement," replied the Prime Minister, "and the whole question of staffing, including the appointment of director of C stations, has been discussed with the Public Service Commissioners. The rest of the question, I think, he has attempted to answer himself."

Mr. Savage said the salary Avas £SOO, plus 1\ per cent, commission, but the position was more or less of an exploratory character, and he could not find anybody who really knew anything about it. An Opposition voice: He knows.

The Prime Minister said that a report would be made in three months, and the whole of the broadcasting service would be reviewed. The object was to provide the best service possible. Mr. Hargest: You will get it at that price. The Prime Minister: It might bo a lower price later on. That is all there is to it.