"SCRIM" REPLIES TO CRITICS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 68, 13 December 1937, Page 7

"SCRIM" REPLIES TO CRITICS

i— Press Association. )

Challenged to Prove Charges OFFER TO RESIGN

(By TeleKrapl

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A statement that he would resign his position and! would give £500 to any organisation nominated if any pf the charges levelied against him in connection with the Friendly Road movement

and his appointment ag Director of Commercial Broadcasting could be proved before a, responsiblo body of citizens was made by Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour, when speaking at the usual annual gatbering of the Friendly Road movement in tlie Auckland Town Hall to-night. There was an attendance of about 3000; Mr. Scrimgeour recalled charges of corrupt practices, irresponsibile action and ineompetency, which, he said, had been made from time to. time in relation to his handling of Jiis job as controller of the Commercial Broadcasting Service. Members of Parliament had not spared tlie rod when speaking under tlie cover and privilege of the House, lie added. A certain newspapcr had made extravagant cliarges and had demanded a Royal Commission, but in the House members had confined themselves to referring to these allegations. Though they had been challenged repeatedly to make charges tliemselvea, none had been forthcoming. "I will challenge any of these parties accusing me of all these terrible crimes to prove any one of them before a responsible body of citizens, and, if proof is fortlicoming, I will not only resign my position as director qf commercial broadcasting, but I sball also make a donation of £500 to any organisation nominated,55 Mr. Scrimgeour said. The same newgpaper had aHeged that Mr. John Stannage, of Stannagq Radio, Ltd., was acting as a fdummy' for him and that there had been corrupt practice between Mr. Stannage and himself, He had also been accused of malpractice in association with other persons who had dealings with the commercial broadcasting service. Another allegation was that he had "pocketcd55 the money, totalling £5000, which had been paid over for Station 1ZB. Actually, the amount wliich had been paid was £2100. Of that sum practically all had been required to meet the liabilities of tbe station, and, personally, lie liad not received a •penny.