COME BACK!

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 77, 22 June 1927, Page 7

COME BACK!

CALL TO “UNCLE JACK” LISTENERS LEAGUE MEETS UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION “TJNCLE JACK,” late of IYA, Has done a lot of calling to Auckland listeners-in, but it was their turn last night. With a unanimous voice a Scots* Hall full of them yelled: “Come back, Uncle Jack!” The resolution passed was much more dignified than that, of course, but the meaning and the enthusiasm was the same, and cheers were given for Mr. J. M. Prentice. The meeting, which was called by the Auckland Listeners’ League, had the Prentice affair at the back of its mind while the other grievances were being discussed, and every reference to him was greeted with applause and cheers. “I don’t know how many there ore here who bought a set, as I did. on the strength of Mr. Prentice being brought from Australia to reorganise the broadcasting company,” said Mr. A. C. Jacob, president of the league. “When his resignation was made known a wire was sent to Mr. Harris, in Christchurch, to come to Auckland and meet the executive. Mr. Harris replied that if Mr. Prentice had resigned of his own volition no useful purpose could be served by conference with the representatives of the people who provide one-third of the income.” “Mr. Prentice’s resignation was the result of his own conscience” continued Mr. Jacob. “He thought it was impossible for him to carry on owing to the policy. The only expert in the country resigned because he could not keep faith with the public and remain in the position he was holding.’ A LURID FLAME “Discontent which had been smouldering for some time burst into lurid flame when Mr. Prentice resigned’’ said the next speaker Mr. Trevor W. Stringer. From Rotorua Mr. R. IT. Reid brought a resolution expressing regret at the resignation and at the “shortsighted policy of losing his services.” The resolution, expressing sincere regret at the resignation, and recording an appreciation of his efforts for listeners-in, was proposed by Mr. A. A. Hintz, who said: “Mr. Prentice, though impersonally known to most of us, is really a strong personal friend through the radio. We are all doing out best to prevent him from going. How the result can be brought about is hard to say. unless the motions passed here bear fruit. 44 1 can’t see how any sane body can refuse to give him a chance to carry on. It is a pity that he is not here to say what he was up

against.” “The company has handed us a lot of dope but if they are anxious to meet our views, let them reinstate Mr. Prentice,” declared Mr. J. Dougherty. At Mr. H. W. Tidman’s suggestion, the “hope that Mr. Prentice be not lost to New Zealand listenors-in” was added to the motion, and it was then carried unanimously and enthusiastically. i ~, “Let me propose a slogan! said someone in the hall, “ ‘No Prentice, no aerial.’ ” (Thunderous applause.)