Donald McCullough from 1YA

New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 459, 9 April 1948, Page 20

Donald McCullough from 1YA

LISTENING to the BBC’s Brains Trust has become a national pastime in Britain, whether people are out for information or amusement. There is always information, with teams of wellknown personalities giving impromptu answers to questions sent in by listeners, and whatever the questions and whoever the speakers, the mental cut-and-thrust round the table is in itself stimulating. Something on similar lines has been attempted by both the National and Commercial stations of the NZBS through the discussion panels arranged by the YA network and the citizens’ forums of the ZB stations. Now, New Zealand listeners are to hear the well-known voice of Donald McCullough, BBC Brains Trust questionmaster, from NZBS studios. Mr. McCullough is making a three weeks’ visit to the Dominion, during which he will be the chairman at four impromptu discussions. These, the Talks Department of the NZBS expects, will combine some of the technique of the BBC and of the YA discussion panels. Some time ago, questions for analysis and answer in Mr. McCullough’s sessions were invited through The Listener and over the air, and a wide selection was received by the Talks Department.

One session will be produced and. broadcast in each of the four main centres, In Wellington and Christchurch the subjects. for discussion will tend towards farming, for this topic has been used in some of Mr, McCullough’s most interesting BBC sessions. The Auckland and Dunedin subjects will be of a more general nature. One session will be broadcast from Station 1YA this Sunday, April 11, at 4.0 p.m., and 1YA will broadcast later the session produced. in ~ Wellington; 2YA will also broadcast these two discussions and 3YA.and 4YA will each broadcast the South Island sessions, Apart from the discussions, Mr. McCulJough will give talks from each of the four main National stations.