DEATH OF JOHN MACKENZIE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 15, Issue 368, 12 July 1946, Page 4

DEATH OF JOHN MACKENZIE

Popular Station Manager of 3YA

FTER several weeks’ illness, John Mackenzie, station manager at 3YA, Christchurch, died on July 3. He had joined the Broadcasting Company in July, 1929, as station director at 4YA, and in January, 1931, became manager at 3YA, holding that office until his death. Tall "Mac" as he was popularly known by his colleagues and by radio artists who visited the station, was always deeply interested in community work, and that in part contributed to his success at the Christchurch station. He was born in Dunedin. On leaving school he took commercial training, but office routine was by no means to his taste. When he got the chance, he signed on before the mast in the American schooner Alumna, and made the voyage from Auckland to Gray’s Harbour, on the west coast of America. He worked his way along with the rest of the small crew, doing his regular four hours on and cight off. He actually had no need to join the crew, for he had his fare in his pocket, but money saved meant money gained and then there was the experience of manhandling sails to make a big ship drive its way through

fine weather and dirty, steep seas, and the doldrums. The voyage took 92 days. For ten years he was in America, doing Y.M.C.A. work for part of the time. Then, in Chicago, he worked as an industrial secretary, arranging talks and entertainments for a big firm and, in short, engaging in a scheme to bridge the gulf between the men in executive

positions and the workmen. He met with considerable success and did similar work for several other big plants. Later he visited France and England and then returned to New Zealand. His next move was to Hamilton; where he surveyed the possibilities of Y.M.C.A. work. He ran a campaign through which £12,000 was raised, and while there, met William Goodfellow, who was on the campaign committee. A chance remark — "What about wireless for the boys of the Waikato country?" — was something of a turning-point in Mr. Mackenzie’s life, for through it he eventually entered the administrative field of tadio. Another trip to America, during which he was engaged in putting on entertainment for troops at Monterey during the 1914.18 war, found Mr. Mackenzie busy at community work as usual, and on his return to New Zealand he again met Mr. Goodfellow, also A. R. Harris. They had started the Broadcasting Company by then, and he soon joined the staff. In his spare time Mr. Mackenzie, who had done a good deal of survey work in America, liked nothing better than tramping and camping and surfing. And when two really good exponents of wrestling took the stage he was to be seen at a ringside seat, watching every move. But best of all he liked a good book. He made a point of reading two a week. Many old friends in radio and among the listening public will greatly regret his death.