THINGS TO COME A Run Through The Programmes

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 53, 28 June 1940, Page 6

THINGS TO COME

A Run

Through The Programmes

IEUTENANT COMMISSIONER _J. EVAN SMITH, who will give some personal impressions of General Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army, from 2YA on Founder’s Day, July 5, at 7.40 p.m. was the last private secretary employed by the Army leader before his death. He acted in that capacity from 1907 until General Booth died in 1912. He then became secretary to General Bramwell Booth, visited Australia and New Zealand with him in 1920 and 1924, and last March came back here to take charge of the Salvation Army in New Zealand. Founder’s Day celebrates the formation of the Army in 1865. Tramp Listeners who have seen Ngaio Marsh’s profile pictured by Spencer Digby in The Listener, will understand that, as usual, the picture drawn by Russell Clark for this item of radio news has very little to do with the author of the talk which 3YA will broadcast at 7.40 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2. Miss Marsh is going to talk about Traveller's Joy.

Although it will be traveller’s joy as she has found it in her travels abroad, our picture of the tramp does suggest something of the spirit of freedom which is the joy of true travellers, whether men or women, tramps or tourists. Miss Marsh, as far as we know, avoided conducted tours, and travelled to no timetable. She also avoids the mundane when she talks about her experiences. He Says It’s Easy Although W. Graeme Holder, New Zealand radio-playwright, receives praise from all the English-speaking countries from which his work is broadcast, and, in fact, recently heard from the Australian Broadcasting Commission, that his work was considered pre-emin-

ent, he still fails to understand why more people do not do the same thing. In fact, every time he sees any one from The Listener he says it’s easy, and asks us to encourage others to try it. He spends a lot of time himself doing just that; but so far there is only one Graeme Holder. Next Sunday, June 30, at 9.15 p.m., his play "Full Circle" will be broadcast by 1YA. On Friday, July 5, one of his new serials, "Thaddeus Brown, Retd." will begin from Station 2YD. This is the story of Thaddeus and his wife Olive, who must journey out of their Sleepy Hollow in a car which has been left to them on condition that it be used a specified amount. With them is Mr. Queeks, a neighbour. Reminder Although a good deal of the tumult has died, there is still some shouting to remind New Zealanders that this is their Centennial year. Some of it will be heard from 2YA at 7.40 p.m. on Monday, July 1, when Martin’ Nestor is giving the second of his talks in the Winter Course series. This time, for his "Background of New Zealand" he has selected The Early Traders as a topic, and will discuss those people who began New Zealand colonisation almost before the Wakefields had heard of the country, who killed the seals, cut the flax, chopped down the trees for~ ships’ masts, bought kauri gum, and traded trinkets with the Maoris in exchange for food. Mr. Nestor is now in the office of the Director of Publicity, but before then his work was with the Centennial Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, so his talks come from wide knowledge of his subject, gained both as a hobby and a vocation. Cows For You Listeners in towns and cities have no doubt heard of cows; but it is doubtful whether any great proportion of them are interested in the dear animals until they reach the bottle-on-the-doorstep stage. But there is more to a cow than the rattle of the milkman’s van in the morning. There is more to a cow even than bailing it up and milking it. Just how much more townsmen may learn, if they are curious-and they should be-by listening to 1YA at 7.40 p.m. on Monday, July 1, when W. D. Corby, Advisor Officer of the Dairy Board, will discuss the Herd Improvement Plan. This is a nation-wide scheme, which aims at making every cow in New Zealand into a sort of Super-Daisy that milks gallons

every day and sends butterfat averages skyrocketing. It is not an easy job, but it is a fascinating job, because it means for farmers the replacement of happy-go-lucky methods with method and science. It is worth knowing something about, even for "townies," because it means something to the cup of tea as well as to the separator. Church and State Among all the conflicting stories we hear about Germany, it is satisfying to find someone studying the strange conditions of the modern totalitarian State carefully and reasonably. Such a one is the Reverend Nathaniel Micklem, D.D., who will be heard in another recorded talk from 3YA at 2.15 p.m. next Sunday, June 30. He is discussing the spiritual struggle in Germany, trying to explain the contradictions of Nazism; to discover a reason for the support which a great nation seems to give to a government which grew out of force and cruelty and lives by those powers still. His talk next Sunday will cover "Church and State," and the repercussions of Nazism on the pulpits which once produced Luther, and have since produced Niemoller. For Band Fans Those listeners who formed a taste for the singing of Mavis Edmonds with dance bands, can still hear her. When she came back to New Zealand last year, she was on the air a good deal, and will be heard again during 2YA’s dance session at 10 p.m. on Monday, July 1. She is singing with Lauri Paddi and his Ballroom Orchestra from the Majestic Cabaret, so that those who have to deny themselves the pleasure of seeing her and dancing to the music, may have the secondhand pleasure of hearing her over the air. You Can Help An item to be broadcast by 2YA at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, calls attention to the fact that listeners in New Zealand can be of service to the BBC. Station 2YA is broadcasting "The World Hears London," an item which gives some idea of the world-wide scope of BBC overseas services. It is based on letters received from all parts of the world, many of them remote and strange. The BBC always welcomes letters from listeners. In fact, our latest official advice from them asks for letters. "Always a vital contribution to the planning of the Overseas Services," they say, "listeners’ letters to the BBC are doubly important in time of war." Listeners may

help by writing to "E.P.R.O., British Broadcasting Corporation, London," and telling them how broadcasts are received, when they listen, what subjects or items they like, and any criticisms they have to make. The form of a proper questionnaire may be had on application to The Listener office. Trifles A "collector of unconsidered trifles," by nom de plume of "Autolycus," is going to pester 4YA listeners for a-time. His first broadcast will be given in the near future, His series is called "Do You Know Why?" and

listeners will be surprised to discover how often they don’t. He asks all sorts of queer questions. "What was the matter with Ferdinand?" for example. Well, what? Then there is something about "gerrymandering," and whether or not it is fattening to drink milk. No doubt this all sounds very strange and mysterious. If listeners would know more about it, they know what to do. We hope that they do not all feel all the time like the sorry gentleman pictured by our artist. Wells and Spells A dealer in magic and spells causes all the trouble in "The Sorcerer," the Gilbert and Sullivan opera which will be broadcast by 2YA at 9.25 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. Although it is not so well known as the others, this G. and S. opera is very good fun. John Wellington Wells is a kind of Victorian version of Shakespeare’s Puck. His love philtres do their work well, but to the wrong people, and much mischief is caused thereby. In addition, need we mention that Gilbert and Sullivan, Unltd., is an entirely British firm? However, it is not necessary to be ultrapatriotic to enjoy the best fun anyone ever had with words and music.