NEW ZEALAND TALENT

New Zealand Listener, Volume 26, Issue 666, 10 April 1952, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TALENT

Sir,-When the present Government came to power, I seem to remember the Minister concerned promising much brighter programmes and, I think, more use of local artists, If one looks through the published programmes in The Listener today, items by local artists appear to be confined to vocal and instrumental music, and items of a lighter type are conspicuous by their absence. It is true . that we are supplied with recorded BBC shows, such as Take It From Here, Variety Bandbox, etc., but even then we often get them twice, first on the Commercial and then on the National programmes. Few people would wish to -belittle the undoubted wit and humour of these programmes, but many of the gags are topical and refer to happenings that occurred over twelve months previously, some of which have never been heard of in New Zealand. Several attempts have been made to produce local shows. Were these attempts entirely abortive? Did they meet with such a hostile reception that the service has decided not to continue with them? The last two shows that one calls to mind are It’s In the Air, and Wizards of Quiz. The first one was not purely local, as the scripts were imported, but we did have local talent, who gave of their best and carried on the tradition that had been started earlier, by Wizards of Quiz. This latter show was entirely New Zealand made. It pleased me, but I realise that it may not have pleased everybody; nevertheless, it attempted to portray New Zealand life, and I am sure that thousands must have chuckled at the absurd goings-on at Nokotomato, We also used to hear many local turns from 2YA on Saturday nights several years ago, but these shows also seem to have joined the rest in the limbo of the lost. Why cannot import restrictions be applied to the overseas shows, so that the locally-produced article can have a chance? WELL-MADE, NEW ZEALAND (Wellington).

(it is very far from true that programmes by New Zealand artists are confined to vocal and instrumental music. Nor is it true that light programmes by New Zealand artists are "conspicuous by their absence.’’ But our corre--spondent perhaps refers only or mainly to variety, not the easiest field to cultivate successfully. The Broadcasting Service has by no means decided not to continue such productions. In addition to those he mentions, the Christmas variety show, You’re Welcome, was produced last year at Auckland, has been heard from all ZB stations and 2ZA, and is still to be presented at three more stations.-