A Dull One

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 6, 21 August 1931, Page 30

A Dull One

THE paper presented by the Manufacturers’ Association on "Furniture and Furnishings" was amazingly dull. The subject is not an easy one; even to wax eloquent (which is vastly different from being interesting) about a Chesterfield or a table is not easy. But the subject has quite amazing possibilities. I always believe in incident or anecdote. A description of the marble table wrought for Cassius, which was subsequently sold by that gentleman when in financial difficulties; a tracing of its history from the time of its purchase by a Pompeiian and its subsequent recovery from the eruption-something of that sort to arrest the interest. Then outline the gradual preference for wooden furniture as against stone or marble, and so link up with stich famous masters as Sheraton and Chippendale; explain what characteristics were to be found in each. . By a natural: process of thought give some illuminating anecdotes. on the work of genuine copyists and genuine fakers. To recount a clever fraud is to hold the interest of your audience; goodness

knows there have been enough examples in. the furniture world Get on to modern styles, then, by all means, and bring in your "Buy New Zealand Furniture"; you will have caught the attention of your listeners and, on the off chance that you might have another valuable tit-bit for them, they will listen. Whether or no they are disappointed in their hopes matters not a little bit-your message has. gone home to bear fruit, we hope. But to drone on-even the announcer could make little else of it, poor man-about kapok and horsehair; webbing and tacks; plush and velvet; kauri and rimu, and so on, and so forth, is to ask for, and receive, either a movement of the switch or of the dial. In either event valuable time has been lost and, which is worse, the listening public will be wary of future — talks sponsored by the Manufacturers’ Association. In view of the real excellence of some of these, such a tendency on the part of the public should be avoided.