BRAINS-TRUSTING ROUND THE GLOBE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 460, 16 April 1948, Page 7

BRAINS-TRUSTING ROUND THE GLOBE

HE tall, athletic looking figure lounging deep in an armchair in the office of 1YA’s manager removed one neatly trousered leg from the other, rose and shook hands with a representative of The Listener. It was Donald McCullough, questionmaster of the BBC Brains Trust, who had just arrived in New Zealand for a three weeks’ stay, during which time he was to start in the four main centres sessions similar to those over which he presides for the BBC. "I have been Brains-Trusting my way round the world,’ he told The Listener, "and there is no better way of finding. out what is happening in the world. Mr. McCullough explained that he had presided over broadcast Brains Trust sessions in Ceylon and Singapore, besides others which were not broadcast-these including a considerable number in Singapore for the entertainment of the troops. He also introduced Brains-Trust-ing to Hongkong Radio, and then went on to Japan, where he conducted sessions in many parts for the benefit of the occupation troops. Some of the forces had adopted the Brains Trust technique as*a method of education, both military and general-‘"‘And it’s a very good system indeed." An advant- age of this method was that instead of one officer giving a long talk on, say, a new tank, three or four who were experts in different branches of the tank’s mechanism would answer questions, thereby giving variety and interest to the course, A further advantage was that as questions could be supplied by the troops anonymously those who would be too shy to put questions openlyperhaps because the subject puzzling them was an elementary cne-would put in written questions and have answered the point that was worrying them. The visitor from the BBC had a talk with General MacArthur, who showed a keen interest in Brains Trust sessions. Most ofthis conversation was "off the record," but two points may be quoted. One was the hope expressed by the Allied Commander that he would one day have an opportunity of visiting Scotland, birthplace of his grandfather. The other was the General’s high praise for the manner in which the New Zealand and Australian troops had carried out their occupation duties,

From Japan Mr. McCullough flew down to. Australia. "I broadcast one Brains Trust session from Sydney, which the people of New South Wales: thought was first-class, but which the Victorians thought was an outrage, and one from Melbourne, which the Victorians thought was first-class, but the Sydney people considered absolutely ludicrous.’ While in Sydney Mr. McCullough also opened an exhibition of maps at the David Jones Art Gallery. This is a series upon which he has been working for the last three years. Produced by The Countryman each one is of an English’ county and is illustrated to show what contribytion the county made to the war effort. Profits from the sale of the maps go to the Women’s Land Army Benevolent Fund, which Donald McCullough founded. He intends to exhibit them in New Zealand later. Although Mr. McCullough has been broadcasting for 15 years-both giving talks and acting as questionmaster for the Brains Trust-and has written a book on television, his radio work is not his sole claim to fame. He is a contributor to both The Countryman and Punch and he collaborated with the famous artist Fougasse to produce the book You Have Been Warned-A Complete Guide to the Road. When The Listener representative arrived at 1YA to meet Mr. McCullough a discussion about arrangements for his stay here was in progress. "Of course I don't really mind," he smiled, speaking of something he suggested should be altered, "but if I don’t like it I'll do an article for Punch, which’ll write New Zealand off the map." Then the subdued chuckle,. which those of us who listen to the BBC Brains Trust know so well, developed into the deep-throateg infectious bellow of laughter with which his whole conversation was impregnated. Talk reverted to the Brains Trust. It was started on New Year’s Day, 1941, at a grim time in British history, when ‘many troops were standing by prepared, to meet a German invasion, and was in response to a request from the military authorities for a session which would provide a basis for informal discussion. The early broadcasts were given on the Forces Progr e, but it was soon extended to other? programmes. The first week 15 questions were sent in. Thirty were sent in the second week and then the number jumped to a thousand.

The record for any one week was 3,000 and the average over a long period was 2,000. Which came first, Mr. McCullough was asked, the selection of questions or the choosing of a Brains Trust panel? The panel first and then the questions were picked out with a view to getting the most from the panel. "The idea is to make the most of the education and special experience of the people who are on the Brains Trust, and the plan is to stimulate the experts with questions which will make them talk with enthusiasm and ferocity. The selection of a team is made for the purpose of displaying to best advantage the skill in exposition and the wide field of experience of those participating." A few weeks previously The Listener reporter had listened to Isobel Baillie extolling the virtues of Sir Malcolm Sargent as a conductor; now he was to hear him praised as a man of other abilities. "He is a tonic to talk to," Donald McCullough commented. Of

Joad he said: "He has the most astounde ing capability for exposition in the field of ideas of anyone I have ever met. He has several more or less standard answers in the field of philosophy which can be produced in answer to ale most any question — a faculty which leaves listeners in a state of awestruck bewilderment." There were not many women who could talk interestingly and yet with the self-discipline required.of a Brains Trust session, and those who were heard in the BBC session were outstanding. Most of the "star" women in the Brains Trust were or are governors of the BBC. Barbara Ward, "an astoundingly able girl and most attractive," is at present a governor and therefore cannot take part in the session any longer. "We are missing her very much." Elizabeth Fry, "a wonderful woman," older than those who know her only as a voice on the BBC would suspect, and Mrs. Mary Hamil« ton are both former governors. Mr. McCullough had been. speaking admiringly of people with wide interests; but his own interests are far from being confined within narrow limits. Be« sides being a broadcaster and writer he is also on one of the committees of the National Trust and is on the Council for the Preservation of Rural England. The Japanese respect for keeping the countryside neat compelled his admiration. "Knowing what they did during the war I thought I should want to kick every Japanese I saw in the face, but I could not help admiring the way they tried to keep the countryside looking like painting. You can’t drop even @ piece of paper in Japan." Mr. McCullough is also interested in yachting and golf, and asked if it would be possible to arrange a foursome dure ing his first week-end here. "I can play a reasonable game," he said. "I usually play to a four handicap." At the conclusion of his New Zealand visit’ the Questionmaster will travel ta the United States, .