A Broadcast Training School Seems Sound....

Radio Record, Volume X, Issue 21, 4 December 1936, Page 5

A Broadcast Training School

Seems Sound....

Says

Colin

McNish

as to whether New Zealand students returning from abroad find sufficient inducement to enter the Civil Service, there is one Department of State which has solved the problem. The Big Four, or Big Five, or whatever those who rule the destinies of the New Zealand Police F orce are called, are really entitled to feel a W sic much ink pours out over the disputé

tttle sorry about the matter, and jit is possible that the harassed Public Service Commissioners may even wring some balm from the situation. For, instead of making appointments from a mass of graduates with more or less: relevant qualifications, the Police Department

makes the appointments in the first instance from local men, and then sends those which are, of its own knowlede, the best, abroad to the Police College in England. There is no buying an expensive pig in a poke about that policy. The pig is a well-known pig, and the best of those available. It is likely to develop qualities which have already been proved, to some extent, in New Zealand. It may even_ become an imaginative pig (our police very seldom ° lay themselves open to criticism). The advantages are obvious, and need not be enlarged upon. -New Zealand, only a short: time ago, made a major broadcacsting appointment. The best man

avaliable .was ‘a .dlistinguished amateur. Perhaps that is no disadvantage. But it ‘would be a very mistaken policy to make al! appointments to broadcasting posts from among the ranks of-our distinguished amateurs. .For one thing, there aren't enough to choose from. But even that might be preferable to ° the system which makes it so difficult for a highly: ‘qualified expert, not already in the Civil . Service to obtain a post’ in preference to a clerk from, say, the. Public: Trust Office, the "* Lands and Deeds De-. ’ ‘ partment. A . Civil Service. which is "a... close..:corporation — is something ‘of a menace’

to the community; and the appointment of amateurs in certain cases is definitely a.very commendable step in the right direction. ~ But it need not be a question of choice between these two alternatives. There are cases in any department where ‘ap‘pointments have to be made.from outside. Those already in the Department have, perhaps, not the qualifications, the maturity,

or the experience . which would .fit them ‘for ithe vacancy. A wise departmental head does what he can to fit the members of his staff for more responsible positions, In vhe case of Broadcasting, this policy, if it were adopted might present no

. more difficulties than in the ‘case of police. Recent English papers have been full of the projected B.B.C, Training School; analogous in some respects to the Police Colleges. The school is not, it is emphasised, a back door into the B.B.C.. It is not even merely a school for an- . houncers, programme officials and other regular members of the staffs. The "live" artists who are under contract to the Corporation may participate, receive general training, coaching in their particular turns, and even present full regular programmes; ‘not, of course broadcast; but conducted in every .other respect as:though for actual transmission. The Police Department has made satisfactory drrangements for’ the best of its officers to"'go abroad and

receive additional. training. . Why should not the Broadcasting Service do the same? The benefit to listeners, | which is, ‘after all, the ‘principal. consideration, would be extraordinary. The possibility seems at least worth very éareful investigation, and: perhaps the new’ Director ‘may turn his ‘attention -to‘it now that he has grasped the reins. | . This -would also provide a*splendid oppor‘tunity for trainees from . this country to study’ such advances as tele. "vision and enable them, "on‘their-return, to give.’ : the: N.B.S. ‘sound opindon and, information on * "most questions.. .

A New Name... OLIN McNISH is a new name to readers of the "Radio Record." This is only his second article in these. pages. But he is a vigorous and well-informed critic, and one with a keen interest in broadcasting policy.