Maori Pageant Proves Great Attrac tion in Australia

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 7, 30 August 1929, Page 3

Maori Pageant Proves Great Attrac-

tion in Australia

Correspondence from overseas goes to prove the overwhelming success of the Radio Pageant of the Maori Race. The first communication was from Commander Byrd,. in Antarctica, but the last mail,.from Australia was very heavy, indicating that many thousands of people were listening in: Reception was well nigh perfect and although, rebroadcasting was carried out by the Australian stations many’sets were tuned in direct on 2YA.

T is particularly gratifying to read the high praise and splendid tributes paid by distant. listeners to the Radio Pageant, proving that although intended primarily for the benefit of New Zealanders the Pageant served a national purpose:far abroad from the shores of this Dominion. -We publish below some extracts from the letters received. , Dora .Creek (N.S.W.) : "TLam writing to express my appreciation of the most remarkable and unique programme I listened to from your station on Thursday night last, the Maori Pageant. I had heard your announcement the previous night of the week, and was ready for you when you. Commenced at 6.30 p.m. our time. Myself and family listened from start to finish; there were only two slight fades and. absolutely no static. | We never missed a word and enjoyed the programme throughout, so much so that we sent word to all our neighbours with sets to listen to the Friday night’s programme, but unfortunately the static and fading were bad and we missed quite a lot. We listen a lot to New Zealand stations, as we enjoy the programmes." _feehan (Tasmania) : ‘"We feel we would like to send a line or two to 2YA to say how splendid the Maoris* entertainment was that was transmitted last Friday night, especially the Jew’s harp item and the hukkas (hakas). It was all so very interesting." Birchip (Victoria) : "Permit me to express my appreciation at the splendid concert you put on’ the air last night, August 9. I picked you up some time late in the evening and continued to listen to your concert. until I closed down at 11.45, Victoria time. The music and singing was beautiful-of course, mostly in.the Maori. tongue." Rockhampton (Queensland) : "Just a few words to let you know how much we appreciated your programme last-night, August 8 Having sperf}some years in New Zealand some plegsmt memories were revived. The reception was splendid, full volume on loudspeaker. Will look forward to the pleasure of hearing you again." . South Brisbane: "When 4QG closed down this evening at 10.30, I managed to tune in your ‘station, and I must say that the Maori melodies-as supplied by your station were wonderful and very pleasant to listen to." -_

Collaroy Beach (N.S.W.): "May I thank the Maori broadcasters. and yourself for the delightful programme of Thursday and Friday nights. It was.quite by accident. I heard, the items, for New Zealand programmes do-.not appear in the

‘Wireless Weekly.’ I wish tliey did, for some of ‘the stuff being given us by our new B.C. Co. is appalling. On Thursday, in particular, the larity of the productions was very good. JFollowing as it did a delightful ten weeks recently spent by me in New Zealand, including a week at Rotorua, the broadeasting was most acceptable." Geelong (Victoria) : "TY would like to express my appreciation of the magnificent . concert broadcast from your studio by the Maori Operatic Society last night, August 8. I had some friends in last =

evening, and to demonstrate the powers of my self-constructed threevalve set, I got on to 2YA, and I am satisfied that all present were as delighted as I was, and the lucky owners who possess sets sufficiently selective will be listening in again to-

TE night for .the repetition of this con-> cert. Every item came through at excellent strength and clarity, and the rendering of ‘Danny Boy’ was beyond description. If possible I would like you to thank that lady personally for me, and let her know how much that item was appreciated. I wonder if. you could possibly let me: have a photo of this operatic society: :- Surely some New Zealand paper would -be publishing the photograph of-such an excel-. lent performance. : I-would esteem it a great favour if you could send me:on: a photo. I sincerely: hope I-am ‘not overstepping the bounds ‘of’ propriety, but you would understand if you knew my enthusiasm." Mallee (200 miles from Melbourne) : "From 8.30 onwards I listened to one of the finest programmes I have ever heard. A most interesting and beautiful evening was spent both on the 8th and 9th inst. The harmony was indeed wonderful and I have to

thank-you for such. I feel very gratified with the results of my set and look forward to more (many more) enjoyable evenings. It is results of this kind that make the high-class broadcasting a very real factor in our home life." Benalla (Victoria) : "Tam dropping you a line to let you know that your broadcast of the Maori artists has been received by me tonight beautifully, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. As I write ‘Home, Sweet Home’ is being sung and the singer is most sympathetic in her rendering of the number. All the items have been splendid. Although not able to understand the native tongue, the music, like all good music, is most beautiful (‘National Anthem’ just finished). I may state I enjoyed your transmission very much," Grafton (Clarence River) : "The reception was perfect and the voices lost none of their rich sweetness in the long journey to ‘Aussie.’ ‘They were, I think, the best and sweetest voices I have ever heard over the air. I wish to add my thanks and congratulations to that of other listeners for those two very pleasant hours ‘o£ sweet, inspiring, and soothing concert. My home is on the Clarence River, 442 miles north of Sydney, and on clear days we can bring in’ 2YA and 1YA at 4 o’clock in the afternoon." Sydney: "As a native of Christchurch who has been a resident of Sydney for over thirty years, it was with the greatest of pleasure that myself and family listened to your programme on Friday last, when you broadcast the Maori Pageant. Many of the items given revived pleasant memories of the early history of my native country which I learned in my school days. As on previous evenings, I had no trouble in picking up your station on a threevalve set of my own make, but probably owing to your transmission running later than usual the strength of your station was much better, and all .the items could be heard all over the room on the loudspeaker. I hope it will not be long before I have the pleasure of hearing a similar programme through your station." Lidcombe (Sydney) : "This evening I have been listening to a concert from your studio until A

-_-- 11.45, our time when you-closed down, and I am taking this opportunity of congratulating you on sending such an excellent programme over the air, which I heard quite clearly-in fact, it was just as loud as I hear the local stations, except for an occasional fading. However, it was very acceptable to: myself and other members of the family, and I hope to be able to listen to such programmes again in the near future." Barellan (N.S.W.) : "J have followed with interest the Maori Pageant broadcast from your station last night and to-night. Both nights have been wonderful, reception being clear and loud; most beautiful singing and music. My time is now 11.45 p.m. (well after midnight your time). Many thanks for your wonderful programme, and long live the Maori people and their beautiful voices." Sydney: "J would like to compliment your announcer on his pronouncing of the Maori language, which is quite a treat to hear after the way it is murdered by some of our station announcers. This applies particularly to the namgs of some of the New Zealand steamers and it would be a good idea if the Union Steam Ship Company could send to all the Australian stations, a list of their steamers giving the correct pronunciation." Tallong (N.S.W.) ¢ "Just a few lines to express pleasure yeceived listening-in to your proadcast of Maori programme on Friday night last, August 9. Having an A.W.A. ‘Radiola’ straight six valve receiver, we did not bother about 2FO, Sydney, relay, but listened-in direct to 2YA, Wellington, and the reception was the most perfect and distinct we have yet listened to, even though we always listen-in to 2YA on Sunday nights if the reception is decent (not too much a

aan static). Your programme on Friday night was very interesting. to Australians. Speaking for myself, I tuned in at 9.3 p.m., and stayed on 2YA until closing time, 11.50 p.m. (our time) with the only. exception that I changed to 1YA and 8YA for a few minutes to test the reception from %hose stations; both very clear, too, but not having the power of 2YA, I, speaking for one Australian, heartily congratulate 2YA for treating us to such a programme treat and ‘the artists are ulso to be congratulated, for the whole of it was perfect. I wish some ef our artists over here would copy their perfect singing (I prefer plain singing without any artistic ‘frills’) and I will add that I have never heard ‘Danny Boy’ rendered with more expression of feeling and perfect enunciation than I did on Friday night." Willoughby (N.S.W.) : "I got the Maori Pageant direct from your station. You came in good and strong on the loudspeaker. Got the whole of pageant which came through, as I said, splendidly. I have to thank your station for a most interesting and instructive performance. I have now got into the knack of finding your station on the air, but thought I must write and tell you how appreciated was this Maori Pageant. There is always food for thought in such performances as these."

West Hobart (Tasmania) : "T have had splendid reception from 2vA. On July 30 I had your broadest from the Opera House, Wanganui, very plainly, and then from the studio until eleven. I heard the clock strike and the closing down, but the outstanding performance was last night, August 8, by the Maori Party. I had this concert at loudspeaker strength, with exquisite ‘music which filled the room. ‘The description of the dance was closely followed by me, and I heard every movement distinctly. The

~- rendition of ‘Home, Sweet Home’ by the Maori lady and company at the close was the sweetest I have ever heard. It gives me great pleasure to get 2YA as I am a native of Invercargill, having been born there 52 years ago." | Terrigal (N.S.W.) : "T would just like to thank you and all those who assisted for the delightful programe from your station last night. I listened-in to’ the whole pageant from 9 p.m. till nearly midnight (local time) and enjoyed every | item, and can envy New Zealand and its Native race. Looking forward to another such delightful evening." Bundaberg. "We often listen-in to your programmes and enjoy them, but we feel we must lét you know that the Maori concert broadcast on Thursday, August & was exceptionally good, and we hope that you will broadcast more of them. There was very little fading, most items coming through at full speaker strength. To-night 2FOC, Sydney, is rebroadcasting your programme." :

Dunkeld (Victoria) : "T picked up your station last night, the 9th instant, at 10.40 p.m., Victorian time, on loudspeaker when you were broadeasting a programme by a Maori company. The reception was remarkably good, practically no static and only very slight fading, An artist sang ‘Danny Boy’ and every word came through exceedingly clearly, as also did your announcer’s description of the Poi dance. I would like to tell you my wife and I enjoyed every item you put over the air and are sorry we did not tune in earlier."