PURPOSE: To permit immediate temporary stopping after detection of an inter- program spacing when automatic program selection is started from the temporary stop state by adding a storage function which is beforehand incorporated with the functions and results of discrimination in the state prior to starting of automatic program selection.

CONSTITUTION: When a temporary stop button 2 is pushed, a mechanism 4 is stopped temporarily by a microcomputer 3. When the operator pushes an automatic program selection button 1 in this state, the microcomputer 3 decides the state before the same. If the automatic program selection is inputted from the state other than the temporary stop state, the automatic program selection is turned on but when the automatic program selection is inputted from the temporary stop state, a flag is set and after said effect is displayed on a display device 6, the automatic program selection is turned on. This state is sustained until an inter-program spacing is detected. When the inter-program spacing is detected with a detecting circuit 5 for the inter-program spacing, the output of the circuit 5 is inputted to the microcomputer 3, and unless the flag is set in the microcomputer 3, the mechanism starts running. If there is the flag, the flag is reset, the device 6 is put off, and the mechanism is stopped temporarily.