Staff and Plant

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 26, 8 January 1932, Page 28

Staff and Plant

Change-over Arrangements Pur change over from company to board control has naturally raised the question in the minds of many listeners, "What will become of the staff and will the announcer be changed?" In all, 69 persons were employed by the Radio Broadcasting Company, and the board decided that none of these shall be thrown on to the labour market, for, with but a few exceptions, the whole staff has been taken over. Arrangements have been made for the complete head office staff, with the exception of Mr. A. R. Harris, who was not an applicant for reappointment, Messrs. R. Lake and F. G. Walker. xecountants, and Miss O. M. Taylor, typist, who have accepted other positions, to transfer to Wellington. They Will be accommodated on the lower floor of 2YA, which is being altered. Owing to the noise made by the earpenters being picked up by the micro phone, it is possible to work between 11 pm, and 10 a.m. only, but the work

-- is proceeding satisfactorily, and by the time we go to press the alterations will be completed. The staff, which is already in Wellington, consists of Messrs, S. J. Hayden (secretary), J. M. Bingham (chief engineer), C. S. Booth (programme supervisor), J. I. Inkster (publicity officer), C. Atkinson (recorded music supervisor), G. Brocklehurst (accountant), WH. Perreau (cashier), Miss D. Corrigan (music librarian), Misses I. i. Rowe, H. J. Bishop, T. R. Woodham, L, Lattimore, P. Spencer, and M. Hood (typists), Messrs. W. Huggins (operator), and H, Fletcher (assistant operator). In future only station 3YA staff will be located in Christchurch, comprising the following:-Messrs. J. Mackenzie (station director), ©. S. Bell (programme organiser), A. L. Curry (announcer), B. G. Henderson (operator), P. G. Hawes and G. IF. Norris (relay operators), Miss Maynard Hall (children’s organiser), and Miss D. M. Evans (typist). The Broadcasting Bill provided for the taking over of the company’s plant at valuation, or, failing an agreement, at a price fixed by arbitration. Arbitration has had to be resorted to, and an inspection of the plant and premises of the head office of the company was carried out by the Hon. Mr. Justice Blair last week. Mr. Justice Blair will inspect the premises at Dunedin when he has finished his work in Christchurch, but the final valuation will not be completed until early in this month. And so we have started upon a new broadcasting era. It will be interesting to watch the developments. Slow they will be, but as the board has been charged to improve and extend the service we can hope for beneficial changes. But with the passing of the control from a private company to a corporate body, the responsibility of providing an acceptable service becomes one in which every listener, public body, and artist should co-operate. The board is only a trustee-the people are the owners,