Why Uncle Jack Resigned From 1 Y.A.

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 87, 4 July 1927, Page 12

Why Uncle Jack Resigned From 1 Y.A.

COMPANY’S ATTITUDE MR. J. M. PRENTICE EXPLAINS “A COMPLETE reversal of the "*■ policy previously §greed upon completed my feelings of dissatisfaction, and a failure on the part of the company to comply with the terms of my contract, in the light of the interpretation given by its two chief executives, caused me to tender my resignation/ Before leaving for Rotorua this morning, Mr. J. M. Prentice (“Uncle Jack”), late announcer for IYA radio station, Auckland, made a statement including the above remarks, of the reasons why he had terminated his engagement with the broadcasting company. Mr. Prentice explained that, though

he had made every possible effort to effect a satisfactory understanding with the company, he had" been unsuccessful, and consequently was returning to Australia. PROMISES NOT KEPT Reviewing the situation, Mr. Prentice pointed out that promises made to him by Mr. W. Goodfellow, chairman of the company, and Mr. Harris, general manager, regarding the scope of his activities, had not been kept by the company. His resignation had been tendered as a protest against the breach of faith with the radio public and himself. “The fact that the company has now agreed to increase the talent allowance, one of the directions in which promises were not kept, more than justifies any action.” Mr. Prentice said that for some months, after coming from Australia to Auckland, he was satisfied with developments, but later the company began to ignore his recommendations, while lesser officials were receiving confidential instructions and information which he regarded as vital. After he tendered his resignation the company declined to make any public announcement for several weeks, until finally the information was communicated to the Press in Christchurch through some unknown source. RELIEVED OF DUTY Almost immediately following the public outcry created by this disclosure, Mr. Prentice, without explanation, was relieved of duty and attendance at the studio. Since then he had received from the company an expression of regret, together with an appreciation of his outstanding ability and services. “The company’s attitude,” said Mr. Prentice, “made it impossible for me to accomplish what I outlined on arrival, and the only honourable course for me to follow was to resign.” Mr. Prentice left this morning for Rotorua as the guest of the Radio Club. He will visit Arapuni and the Waitomo Caves, and later contemplates a trip to Great Britain and Europe, after which he will re-estab-lish himself in radio in one of the Australian capital cities.