THINGS TO COME

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 143, 20 March 1942, Page 5

THINGS TO COME

A Run Through The Programmes

HOSE of us who by reason of our sex or age will never experience the pleasures of life in camp may comfort ourselves with the thought that after all life in a tent has its ups and downs, and that military service isn’t all beer and skittles. And anyway, if we're desperately keen on beer and skittles there’s no reason why we shouldn’t procure them from our local dealer, But assuming that there is such a thing as the Brighter Side of Camp Life, we outsiders can have our share of it by tuning into 2YA next Wednesday evening at 7.30, when, by arrangement with the official camp entertainers, a Concert at a Military Camp will be presented by the NBS. Between Two Suicides "What I iike about Clive," says Hilaire Belloc, "is that he is no longer alive." Which could be interpreted as a recognition of Clive’s determined efforts not to remain alive. This reminds us of a story about the Germany of the inflation period when everything was ersatz or substitute. A certain man decided to commit suicide so he went to a chemist and bought some poison and took it home and swallowed. it, but it was ersatz and he didn’t die. So he went to the cordwainers and bought some rope and went home and hanged himself, but it was ersatz rope and it broke and he didn’t die. So he went to the gunsmith and bought a revolver and went home and shot himself, but the gun did not go off; and so on. Eventually he decided

that he must be destined to live so he

determined to eat, drink, and be merry. He went into a restaurant and ordered himself a big meal, but it was ersatz and he died. Rather like Clive, perhaps. For Clive inade two attempts to take his life and only succeeded with the third. What happened between that first and third attempt was virtually the founding of the British Empire in India, the subject of Cavalcade of Empire to be heard from 2YA on Sunday, March 22, at 4 p.m. The Musical English The English, as we would like the world to know, love music, but as H. R. Jeans suggests in his comedy The English Love Music, they are easily led down the garden path in matters musical. And it isn’t always an easy matter

to show strict discrimination. What, for instance, would be your reactions, were a distinguished orchestra to render the very latest symphony by the very latest and most daring composer, in a circus, with the animals adding squeals, grunts, and quacks to the score? You might think it an accident or a practical joke, but you’d be taken in. Well, Mr. Jeans thinks you would be, and says so unhesitatingly. But there’s no need to get annoyed. The English Love Music is good straight comedy, and the satire is of the gentlest. It has been produced by the NBS Drama Department, and will be on at 2YA at 9.27 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, Those Evening Bells Despite an occasional sniff from conservative musicians, Station 1ZB’s Novachord is apparently in the radio programmes to stay, for Eric Bell is back on the job again. Mr. Bell, one gathers, is one of the few musicians capable of riding the Novachord, which is a capricious and temperamental animal, quite liable to throw the amateur and kick him in the face. For the concord of sweet sounds which Mr. Bell can command depends on one keyboard and a collection of switches and knobs marked with positions One, Two, and Three. Accordingly the first requirement in a Novachord player is a memory sufficiently clear to remind him that position Three of a certain knob -will add a jew’s harp to a string quartet, while position Two will add a balalaika. Mr. Bell, fortunately, has his switches and knobs’ well under control, and his effects are most interesting. He has three programmes, "Music in a Sentimental Mood" (Mondays at 6.30 p.m.); " Latest Song Hits " (Wednesdays, 6.30 p.m.); and "Contrasts" (Fridays, 6.30 p.m.).

Mum’s the Word!

Having heard all that Mrs. O. J. Gcrard had to say about the sailors whom all the nice girls love, and the naval engagements and nautical christenings which inevitably follow, it will be interesting to hear her on "Responsibilities of the Naval Wife", which she will discuss in a talk from 2YA on Friday of next week. As far as these responsibilities are concerned, we are (we think) justified in assuming that since Jack is not an absent-mindea beggar like his brother Tommy the phrase does not refer to such little things as he leaves behind him. Indeed, far from it. We are certain that the responsibility which weighs most crushingly upon the naval wife is that of being married to the Silent Service. We are so fond of sayi z "Be like Dad, keep Mum" that we tend to forget what Mum is to do in the same circumstances. However, we feel sure that while Mrs. Gerard had the silence of the Service in mind when she chose her title, it does not follow that she will censor herself off the air altogether. Domestic Bliss Plunket mothers can usually expect quiet houses and with husbands so busy these days home is quieter still. So the yelling of many babies and the rattling of saucepans, the slappings and the tears that made u» the domestic symphony of forty years. ago are now reduced to the merest gurglings; and of course the

ctoonings of lullabies over the cot is hardly the thing any more. You can, however, still get the low down on ‘Richard Strauss. "I do not see why I should not compose a symphony about myself," he said. "I find myself quite as interestii.g as Napoleon or Alexander." The result was the Symphonia Domestica, Op. 53. "Papa, Mama and Baby Celebrated in a Huge Conglomeration of Music" were the headlines of the New York Sun after the first performance in New York ir 1904, Listeners will be able to hear this interpretation of domestic bliss from 2’ on Wednesday, March 25, at 9.30 p.m. Paper Patterns The English papers we read still seem to be full of articles entitled "How to Dress Yourself on Sixty-six Coupons a Year." Most of the writers are convinced that sixty-six coupons are inadequate, and we are tempted to agree. After all, even assuming that the coupons are very large ones (and from what we hear of the paper shortage in England this seems scarcely likely), it will take more than

sixty-six of them to provide adequate cover for a person of normal size, Another danger the English fashion authorities stress is that the improvident coupon-user will find that before the end of the year she has used up all her coupons and has not the wherewithal to procure another necessary garment. Fortunately we in New Zealand are still free from the coupon problem, but it might be a good idea for us to listen in to "The Business of Clothing the Family," an A.C.E. talk to be heard from IYA, 2YA and 3YA on Monday, March 23. We Are Still Sports Notwithstanding the immediate problems of the war, it is still of importance to a large number of people to know the year in which the Indian hockey team visited New Zealand and the name of the captain of the last Springbok football team to come here. It is neither Refusal to Face Facts nor Preoccupation with Pleasure when we Should be Getting on with the War. For some, conceivably, their continued interest in sport is an escape just as satisfactory as detective thrillers and movies. And that may be why there are as many sports sessions on the air as ever there were and why 3ZB’s "Sports Quiz," for instance, retains its popularity, The "Sports Quiz" which is conducted by Jack Maybury every Friday night from a large Christchurch store, deals with a different sport every week. Mr. Maybury’s plan is to invite to the microphone experts in a particular game and fire rapid questions at them.