WHITE ANTS AND OTHERS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 761, 19 February 1954, Page 26

WHITE ANTS AND OTHERS

|F the popular saying can be believed, many buildings: remain standing today only because of the termites holding hands. Though scientists have not yet observed this singular phenomenon, they do know a good deal about the strange social life of the white ant. In a new BBC programme to be broadcast shortly, listeners will hear about the termite community’s blind workers, its monstrous soldiers, and its huge, inert, egg-laying queens, Entitled White Ants, the feature was written and produced by Nesta Pain, whose scientific pProductions have fascinated the lay audience. White Ants is one of a further series of BBC features now being heard from the four ZB stations at 3.0 p.m. on Sundays. Another -of these which should appeal strongly to listeners interested in science is Radio Active Isotopes, which, through recorded interviews, tells among other things how isotopes are used in medicine and industry. Other new features to be heard in the series include The Little Gold Shoe, an entertainment for radio based on 287 versions of the story known in England as Cinderella; William Booth, the story of the founder of the Salvation Army; The Saint and the Story-tellers, which retells tales and legends of St. Patrick still heard in the Ulster countryside; Trafalgar: The Decisive Battle, a progtfamme about the battle that finally killed Napoleon’s hopes of subduing England; Sleigh Ride, a journey into melody for the festive season, which takes listeners around the world in company with Pearl Carr, Denis Martin and Robert Farnon and his Orchestra; and a Picture Parade programme about The Beggar's Opera.