Prof: Shelley To Retire As Broadcasting Mead

Chronicle (Levin), 9 March 1949, Page 5

Prof: Shelley To Retire As Broadcasting Mead

WELLINGTON, March 8. Professor James Rhelley, who has been Direetor of Broadcasting since 1936, will shortly retire and it is under stood he will be succeeded by Mr. W. jYates who has been his assistant for a number of years. Professor Rhellev, who was selected for the post by the late Mr. M. J. Ravage, then Prime Minister, was at first in charge only of what were then called the national stations. Later. however, when the Controller of Commercial Broadcasting, Mr. C. G. Scrim geour, who was also the personal choice of Mr. Savage, becanie embroiled in an argument with the Government which ended in his being removed from office, Professor Rhelley becanie personal head of both broadcasting services. ' j Mr. Yates, who is now in the United States, has recently investigated in Britain the latest ' broadcasting trends" there and is at present studving advances that have been made in America both in broadcasting techniques and

television. Unlike others who have gone overseas before him, notably Mr. Rcrimgeour who prophesied the early introduetion of television in New Zea land in the days before the outbreak of war, Mr, Yates refused to be drawn when he was approached in London a fortnight ago. Whether his reticence was due to Ministerial instruction or to the fact that he was still under the control of Professor Shelley to whom he will have to report, is a matter for conjecture only. Mr- Yates has had long serviee with the New Zealand broadcasting serviee. He has been producer and player and is well known' as an entertainer. During the war he was a member of.coneert parties which erltertained New Zealand servicemen in the Pacilic theatre of operations.