Radio Control

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 24, 21 October 1937, Page 3

Radio Control

-Press Associfttion.)

the two divisions

"Has Uncle Scrim Won the First Round"

NEW BILL CRITICISED

(By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Last Night, j The separation of the Commercial' Broadcasting Service from the National Broadcasting Service is provided for in the Broadcasting Amendment Bill which was introduced in the House to-. day by Governor-General's message. Coincidental with the establishment of, the separate service the Bill authorises the appointment of a Controller of Commercial Broadcasting who under the direction of the Minister of Broadcasting is to control the Commercial1 Service. The controller is to be appointed byj the Governor-General-in-Council and is. not to hold office for more than three years without reappointment, and last) year's appointment of Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour to this office is validated. The powers of the Director of Broadcasting with respect to the Nationalj Service are to be 'exercised. by thei Controller of Commercial Broadcasting.^ In the administration of the Commer-| cial Service provision is made forvarious financial transactions to be handled Beparately by the administrative officersj of the two services. Power is also given for the establishment of subsi-l diary accounts connected with the broadcasting account at the Reservel Bank. Hon. A. Hamilton said the proposali to separate the Commercial from the National Broadcasting Service looked) as if there might have been a division. of forces between the heads of the two' respective services. The Postmaster-General (Hon. F., Jones) explained the Bill's provisions. for the setting up of theHwo different services and the appointment of ^ a Controller of Commercial Broadcasting and said the last clause provided for a subsidiary account for commercial broadcasting which would be included within the national broadcasting account. Mr. Forbes asked would the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting bei under the control of the Director of Broadcasting or was it a separate job. Mr. Jones: He will be under the control of the Minister. Mr. S. G. Smith asked if there had been a battle royal between the two directors. It appeared as if ' 'Uncle Scrim" had won the first xound. Mr. Savage: They are two differenl joM. Mr. W. J. Polson asked if both the Controller and Director were under the control of the Minister. Mr. Jones: Yes. Mr. Polson criticised the Government for taking a junior officer from under the control of his director and giving him equal power. It seemed an extraordinary method of enforcing discipline. He thought the Director of Broadcasting should control the whole service. It would be in the Government 's own interest to see that that was done. Mr. J. Hargest said the Bill would not go through the House very easily. Dr. McMillan: Aro you going to " jam" it. .. , , Mr Hargest said they knew all about "iamming," which had put the present Government into office. He continued that there was some concern about the lavish way in ' which the Broadcasting Service was being controlled, but he was glad the accounts of the two services were being kept separate. ; The Bill wa» read a first time, j