B.B.C "LEGEND"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 9, 11 July 1938, Page 11

8.8.C "LEGEND"

SIR JOHN REITH

DOUR, SUCCESSFUL SCOT

NEW AIRWAYS CHIEF

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, June 15.

A man who has watched his staff of four grow to 3500 in 16 years, who has established for himself a reputation as a ruthless "pioneer" organiser, and has been subjected to continuous attacks and criticism, but who has won universal admiration, is Sir John Reith, who is the new whole-time chairman of Imperial Airways, and is shortly to vacate the position of Direc-tor-General of the 8.8.C.

Sir John is another of those almost legendary figures of British public life, about whom the people read and hear so much but rarely see. He is said to possess a terrifying look, aided by a long, jagged scar down one side of his face (a permanent reminder of an encounter with a German during the war), to rob critics of their courage, tq dominate the Board of Governors of the 8.8.C, and, at the same time, to be a sentimentalist and idealist, with an intense liking for amateur dramatics.

It is a fact that Sir John shuns personal' publicity and that he dislikes directing attention to himself. Consequently, little is known directly of him and a number of "hearsay" stories are always associated with him. In Aberdeen he started life as an engineer. In the early days of the war, as a major, he was wounded. Later he went to America in charge of British munition contracts. After the war, in 1920, he was a general manager of the firm of William Beardmore and Company. AN IMPORTANT POSTSCRIPT. In 1922, when 33, lie was sitting in his club one day reading a technical paper. It said that applications were invited for four important positions with the newly-formed British Broadcasting Committee. He knew little about wireless and less about broadcasting, but the chance appeared to be worth taking. He wrote to Sir William Noble, and applied for the position of general manager. The story goes that he posted the letter, and later on looked up "Who's Who." To his surprise, he found that Sir William was an Aberdonian about whom his father, a Moderator in the United Free Church of Scotland, had often spoken. It is said that Sir John regained his letter before.it was collected by the postman, and that he added the postscript, "I, too, am an I Aberdonian." Sir John, it is declared. ; believes to this day that those five words got him the job! It was on a gloomy November day, 16 years ago, that Mr. John Reith strode up to the offices of the General Electric Company in Kingsway, and questioned the commissionaire. "Can you tell me which is the 8.8.C.?" he asked. "Second floor, third door," was the reply. And in premises comprising one office, a few chairs, arid a table, he took charge of the London staff of four. When Sir Kingsley Wood announced in the House of Commons the appointment of Sir John to Imperial Airways, the D.G., as he is known at the 8.8.C., was at Ascot. ■He had left his staff of 3500 to look after themselves, knowing that the well-ordered machine of British broadcasting was working smoothly, in ... the. huge Broadcasting House at Portland Place. OPPOSED BY BIG INTERESTS. In the early days of broadcasting, Sir John found much opposition from big interests. Theatres and music halls were against the 8.8.C. from the outset: They would not allow broadcasts from their stages. Sir John fought them. He built up the 8.8.C.'s own entertainment. He fought the Post-master-General of 1923, Sir William Joynson-Hicks, over licences. He received 50 per cent, of the 10s paid by listeners, and he' wanted 75 per cent. He got 75 per cent. He fought radio advertising, sponsored programmes. He fought every attempt to change Sunday programmes. He hustled on the expansion of broadcasting, opening twelve provincial radio stations in the twelve months of 1923. He hired men right and left, telling them that they'd never make much money, but that the work was worth while. He goaded them into a fever of work which caused them, with their growing programme commitments, to shift from Marconi House to Savoy -Hill, and from Savoy Hill to Broadcasting House. As the 8.8.C. grew Sir John, who was knighted in 1927, became more remote, and withdrew to his own room —where is to be found the only fireplace in Broadcasting House — guarded by three secretaries. He gained a reputation for unapproachableness, but his attitude was a deliberate pose, for it kept him from being approached by everyone who expected their arguments to be listened to. As less was seen and heard of him, the chit-chat increased. QUIET PRIVATE LJFE. It is said of Sir John that bis private life is quiet and frugal. He is back at his Beaconsfield house most evenings by 8 o'clock. He travels usually by train and taxi, making only occasional use of a chauffeur-driven car. He listens extensively, and only on rare occasions does he pass any comment to his staff on what he has heard. He is a non-smoker and non-drinker. Born in the rigid traditions of a Scottish manse, he knows most of his Bible from memory, and has a strong predilection (though he has never imposed it on the 8.8.C.) for Scottish metrical psalms and Church music generally. He can pick a psalm at random from the Bible and then tell, without reference, exactly which tune should go with it. He likes dancing and moderate jazz, and his favourite tune is "Hallelujah," from the musical comedy "Hit the Deck." He is an excellent amateur actor. About the 8.8.C. sprang up several rumours that relations between staff and management were not satisfactory and that there was interference with private lives. Questions were asked in Parliament, there was the spectacu-; lar "Moongoose Case" in court, andj there was much private gossip. But! Sir John went down to the House of Commons armed with a round robin J of esteem, signed by the entire 8.8.C. staff, and showed it to the special committee appointed to investigate his administration. He won again. i Now he is to leave the 8.8.C. It is j said that for the past two years hei has believed that his work as an or-! ganiser there was over, for there was no more fighting to be done, and that he asked a high Government official a few weeks ago, "Just when are you going to find me a job?" GENERAL REORGANISATION? His appointment to Imperial Airways follows the recommendation of the Cadman report last March that the cost of chairman should be a wholetime job. With his passion for organisation it is believed that Sir John will | reorganise from top to bottom and that ' eventually he will have Imperial Airways running as smoothly and as reliably as his broadcasting programmes. It is generally admitted that he has

been the main instrument in starting a greafy pioneer service in broadcasting, and it has been suggested that he should have some special recognition from tfce State.

"He 'is," one writer has said, "at 49, one of "'•the most powerful men in the countr;K, and he is very definitely ambitious} Where his ambition will land him will depend, one feels, upon his ability' ko discover that, in the long run, few* is not the best motive force. The thtq^e most frightening men with whom I have ever had dealings were Mussolini, Northcliffe, and Reith. Sir John has not, I think, the same capacity for ins*p&ring intense personal devotion as ttne other two. He still believes* too much in the power of a scowl. But there cjre unexpected moments when the grqai man unbends, and is goodhumouited, generous, and sensitively thoughmil about others. I should not be surprised if Sir John Reith were not, in Secret, one of the shyest men in British ■. .public life."