NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 40, 29 March 1940, Page 46

NEWS FROM THE ZB STATIONS

"3ZB." "Pass." Just like that. The visitors didn’t have to say "abacadabra," "Open sesame," or anything, and almost before they knew where they were they were in. In this way began 3ZB’s latest raid upon Burnham Camp. In fact, Burnham is getting quite used to assaults and broadcasts now. This latest venture was on a recent Friday night when the Y.M.C.A. Recreation Hut was paid an official "microphone" visit. Energetic Mr. Wills, who is in charge, was busy leading the troops in community singing when the 3ZB party arrived. Before that there had been a movie. The hall was packed to capacity, while a nearby tree had its devotees-cer-tainly not by choice but because it presented the last and only method of watching the proceedings. An obliging sergeant escorted the radio party on a tour of inspection. And so we did. First the general reading and lounge room. Lots of small tables, comfy chairs, and best of all a buffet-business was good. A band of helpers travels the 40 miles to Burnham and back each day and does splendid work — in quite a voluntary capacity, too. Then the billiard room. Three full-sized tables in one half, with the other half devoted to those writing home, or playing cards or dominoes. It was a hive of activity-jolly, friendly, comradely activity. " Shamrockland " There are few important national festivals which are overlooked by the ZB stations. New Zealand, Australia, the Empire, France, America, Europe-all have their turn, and many have been the expressions of pleasure from folk Who goes there?"

overseas that their respective national days have been duly honoured by special programmes. Recently 2ZB received the thanks of the Irish community for a special St. Patrick’s Day programme, under the title of "Shamrockland." And many Irish hearts beat a little faster as the sweet, familiar songs of the Emerald Isle were heard again.

Famous Artists A list of the people dealt with in 2ZB’s 2.15 Sunday session, "The Story of a Great Artist" reads like an extract from a Celebrity Recordings Catalogue. The artists already featured in this splendid series include Florence Austral and Eileen Joyce. On March 31, listeners will hear Marek Weber. This Sunday afternoon session can be recommended to all musiclovers.

New 4ZB Voice A new arrival at 4ZB of an old 1ZB personality is Michael Hutt. Many Auckland listeners will remember that Michael was one of the two 1ZB announcers who sought fresh fields for adventure when he went to Australia some time ago. Since then he has seen a great deal of Australia and has worked at various positions in New Zealand. He is a welcome addition to the ranks of 4ZB personalities. 1ZB Goes A-Picnicking At 9.30 a.m. on a recent bright and shiny morning, ordered specially for the occasion, a boat, nay, in very truth a ship, was seen to stagger away from the Northern Wharf, Auckland, loaded down to its Plimsoll with a crowd of carefree trippers. The staff of 1ZB was

out for a day’s enjoyment-in fact, were having their annual picnic. After an hour’s journey on the blue waters of the sparkling Waitemata, the jolly crowd disembarked at the island of Motuihi. The first thought in the minds of the women was tea, gallons of it; the men also were thirsty, but they suffered in silence and drank tea, too. The programme included running, jumping, skipping, and a scavenger hunt. This last-named event caused much merriment. One of the items to be found was a whelk. If only the whelk could have seen what an assortment of shells was brought in to represent it, it might have been flattered. What is a whelk anyway? There were three very successful fishermen in the party — Station Director John Griffiths, Station Engineer Bill Illingworth, and Programme Organiser Dudley Wrat-hall-their combined efforts for the day comprised 20 schnapper and gurnet, one mackerel, and one that got away-not bad going really, as the only thing this combination usually catches is cold. The day ended when successful fishermen, flushed with the fruits of victory, successful athletes weighed down with trophies, lighthearted and lighter loaded pic-nickers-how those people ate!- all congregated on the wharf waiting for their ship to carry them home, and lifted up their voices in that touching little melody "Where the waters deep the fish are fattest."