RADIO DOES ITS PART

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 28, 5 January 1940, Page 49

RADIO DOES ITS PART

Patriotic Street Appeal In Christchurch

RIDAY, December 15, saw the first big war effort made in Christchurch when a street collection was held to raise funds for the district Patriotic Council. Christchurch has long had a reputation envied by other centres for the generosity of its citizens, but on this occasion all records for a one, day appeal were _ broken. When the final figures were tallied a net total of over £1,530 was in hand. 3ZB was right in the thick of things, for the Commercial Station in Christchurch has become an integral part of the city’s life, and when any appeal needs push and publicity 3ZB is on the job. For the Street Appeal, 3ZB had its representatives right in the heart of things, with the station director, Harry Bell, as Chairman of the Patriotic Publicity Committee and Jack Maybury acting in a similar position on the _ entertainment committee. For days beforehand publicity ‘was frequently on the air, and numerous interviews were heard from 3ZB and the National Station, 3YA. With a record set for the day’s takings, radio advertising must be given a due share of the congratulations for a fine effort. Mock Court To sustain interest for listeners during the day, a number of

broadcasts were made, including chats by the announcers to their willing victims at a corner near the studio which was manned throughout the day by 3ZB’s staff. From 8.30 in the morning until after ten at night, one of the announcers with a member of another department was on the job coaxing coin from Christchurch citizens. As well as these "vox pop" broadcasts the proceedings of a Mock Court were relayed from Cathedral Square, when well known Christchurch people were fined anything from £100 to 10s. 6d. Jack Maybury by this time had changed his role, and with The Station Director and Eddie Hegan, was acting as a "policeman." They’re nothing if not versatile, these 3ZB people.