MR. J. F. MONTAGUE

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 23, 23 December 1927, Page 2

MR. J. F. MONTAGUE

‘TO BE "ON THE AIR" FROM 1YA Among a number of interesting engagements recently made in Auckland for 1YA is that of Mr. J. F. Montague, who is well known throughout the Dominion as an clocutionist and adjudicator. Mr. Montague’s work is always of a high standard, and his appearance ou the air will naturally evoke much interest, for his many admirers throughout the Dominion and outside it will be glad to listen to his cultured work. Mr. Montague will be heard on the evenings of December 27 and 30, in dramatic and humorous items, and in sketches and playlets with other good artists--this kind of sketch being something of a novelty for 1YA. Mi, Montague is, and has been, from his earliest youth, an excellent speaker of the Maori tongue, and his first talk is likely to be on the subject of pronunciation of Maori words, and more especially of Maori place names. ‘This subject has been freely ‘liscussed in the Fress and elsewhere from time to time, ,and strong protests have been made against the violent miulilation of the beautiful Maori names, and rightiy so. No amount of writing seems to help the generdl public to solve the difficulty, but the actual spoken word from one who really and truly knows should be a tremendous help te the many thousands who are keenly interested im the snbject. Mr. Montague recently stated: ‘It is a fact that I could actually speak Maori before I could speak English. I have always kept-up my interest in Maori, aud T ain sure that I can instruct anyone of average intelligence who is keen to learn, in a few minutes how. to avoid most or all of the common mispronunciations one hears. Some of these, many of them, in fact, are atrocions, and it is time something was done about it. Many |

ne ee ee ees people pronouncé the names perfectly well, but these folk find it exccedinwlv difficult to show others, by the written word especially, just how it is done. I have this advantage at least, that it is my business te teach people how to correct errors of speech of all kinds, and this Maori stuff comes easier to me, if possible, than my own languaye."