A Few Kind Words
NE of the best talks in the recent New Zealand Attitudes series was by Ralph Brookes: on Civil Liberties, It was a forthright and controversial talk and said, among other things, that it is not possible to be forthright and controversial in New Zealand, Which shows the diffieulty of generalising about the radio in New Zealand. I will risk generalising, and say that seditious thoughts do more often appear in YC talks on general topics than on other programmes. In the past and still elsewhere the object of keeping dangerous thoughts quiet has been that someone might act on them, In New Zealand this fear is secondary to the fear that someone may object, and YC listeners (if there are any) possibly object to free speech less than most. They do, sometimes, object to the lack of it; and we should by all means complain about the NZBS or the Government or the system when our radio is timid. But we ought to remember that there are subjects of some importance which are scarcely discussed at all in New Zealand except on the radio, and happenings of some importance which would not happen except for the NZBS. One
achievement of democratic contro] has been an undemocratic apportionment of services, If we were as hag-ridden by the electorate as some suppose there would be no YC programmes,
Words of Another Kind
HAVING given the devil his due, I shall now give myself the pleasure of listing a few radio items J could do without. The Nutcracker Suite. American records for juveniles, Donald Peers. Politicians, especially .those who will shortly sit in a studio and address a million electors apparently without benefit of microphone, Visiting statesmen, trailing clouds of cliché, Teeny talks from the Minister of Education. Kindergarten of the Air. Announcers who like to call Dr Falla, of the Dominion Museum, Dr Falya, and who rhyme Delius with Sibelius. Forecasters who forecast for Woirappa and Cennabry. So-called Hawaiian music. Synthetic calypso. Gilbert and Sullivan on the cinema organ. Brass bands with ideas above their station. Young men who discuss their dandruff and B.O. in public. Young men who arrange flowers ("these daffs are utterly fabulous’’). Musical versions of Tom Sawyer. Talks about the Nature of Man or the Universe or Truth or Reality. Poetry read with feeling, and comedies hammed out of existence. I’m just getting into my stride, but it’s time to sign off. Finally.
R.D.
McE.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 948, 11 October 1957, Page 24
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411A Few Kind Words New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 948, 11 October 1957, Page 24
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