COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING.

Evening Star, Issue 23380, 25 September 1939, Page 8

COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —" Disgusted." brought before your readers a matter of great importance when referring to Mr Scrimgeour and his salary, etc. The direc- 1 tor is always telling us what a wonderful and prosperous country _ New Zealand is. I think w* would think so too if we received £3O a veek. _ He advocates " social justice for all," and keeps telling us that every one should share in the wealth of this " great little country." It is a grand idea, but rather humorous, particularly when he is drawing about live times his share. 1 suppose he will retire when we build the nation. But these glib-tongued orators are not going to get away with their inconsistencies. In the past we have had too many social reformers, faith .healers, and American evangelists, who take up some topical subject and exploit it by appealing, with flowery oration, to the emotions of their listeners. I would not like to say that Mr Scrimgeour is not sincere in his ideals, but 1 do not think he is consistent when he accepts the profit that he is making through building his " man in the street " idea into social justice talks. He might set an example by giving his services to the countrv at the same remuneration as the average man in the street receives. If it is explained that his salary is remuneration for services rendered to the National Broadcasting Service, then he\ is overpaid. The Government has explained that the National Broadcasting Service is really the people's, and that to ensure its success we should patronise it, and in return it will be of service to us. What a wonderful gesture it would be if the Government let the clients of the ZB stations share in the profits by way of a reduction in the scale of charges. This would prove the actual value in service to the people, and the Government in turn would have a greater advertising medium for itself than all the propaganda it slips in between the advertisers' allotted times.'—l am, etc., September 25. Biiitisher.