NCBS CONTROLLER C. G. SCRIMGEOUR TO VISIT UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 35, 10 February 1939, Unnumbered Page

NCBS CONTROLLER C. G. SCRIMGEOUR TO VISIT UNITED STATES AND CANADA

EARLY aext month, it is understood, a trip to America will be undertaken by the Controller of the National Broadcasting Service, Mr. €. G. Scvimgeour. Information regarding the proposed trip, much of it based om mere rumour, was circulating in Wellington toward the end of last week. Fe Stories Were even current to the effect that Mr. Scrimgeour was resigning from his present post to take up a position in American radio. This, however, Mr. Scrimgeour told the "Record" last Friday, is entirely incorrect. He has no intention of resigning. Owing to the fact that he was approached before a Miwistevial announcement had been made concerning the trip, My. Scrimgeour was in o difficult position regarding elaborating the story. The Hon. F. Jones, Acting-Minister of Broadcasting, was unwilling to make a statement, and the Minister of Broadcasting, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, could not be contacted before the "Record" went to press. But thet Mr. Scrimgeour’s proposed trip reveals a desire on the part of the Goyernment to make further improvements and modernisations in commercial radio seems obvious. Commercial radio in New Zealand is largely modelled on commercial radio in Australia, which has been a "natural" rather than "guided" growth, having, to a large extent, just "growed," like Topsy. Mr. Serimgeour will find many features of American radio worthy of especial attention, and proportion of advertising to entertainment and relative costs of time on the air at night and during the day are only two problems which the Controller will probably study. The rumour that Mr. Scrimgeour is leaving to take up a iucrative position in American radio is not a new one. More than once it has circulated in the past, possibly geining increased momentum through the political difficulties which have arisen from time to time in connection with his post, but each time he has been prompt in enial, . lt is possible that before this appears a Ministerial statement will have been made concerning Mr. Scrimgeour’s trip. In any case, it is hoped to give further information in mext week’s "Record."