Highlights from the Talks

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 44, 13 May 1932, Page 3

Highlights from the Talks

Music and Drama in Java: Wool: Education: Geneva

BRoavcast from 8YA by L. R. BR. Denny, M.A.: When I first land-. ed in Batavia I was quickly aware that if my curiosity was to be satisfied it could be only by reaching the interior. In Solo and Djocja, as in other parts, the primitive jostles the ultra-modern ; with this difference, that in the main the primitive wins. Here in the deep interior, feudal pomp, stately ceremonial, and old worid dresses hold sway, and within half a score square miles over a million people acknowledge in each State thelr allegiance to their sultan. Here within the kraton the batiksters ply their careful art; the brassworker proves a cunning craftsman; and music and drama are untouched by European models. . finest form of the drama, the "wayang-wong," is a curious blend of Javanese history, folk-lore, and Tindu mythology, and teems with religious ideas. A full performance lasts two whole days. There is no scenery, no wings, no curtains, and yet all is full of colour. In a full wayang performance there may be as many as 300, all male. If the performance is a special one, many of the actors. will be actual princes of high degree. The characters range through the gods, kings, princes, heroes, nymphs, demons of the lower world, priests, male and female attendants, and animals. : 4 The costuming is magnificent. All ithe art of the batikster and the craftsmanship of the gold worker combine to render a brilliant spectacle, gorgeous and varied in its colouring, and intricate in its workmanship. All the elothing is batik-cotton dyed in varied colours and curiously designed, There is no acting as we understand the word. Impressionist danting, eurythmics and fighting take the place of the spoken word.. Hvery movement is symbolical. One remarked especially the rhythmic motion of head and meck, hands and feet. So great a significance may movement possess that while the actor is playing no part he is absolutely motionless. The most stirring scenes I witnessed were the single-handed combats, fought with kris, or clubs; there were some also who used dummy (tances and bows and arrows. One marvelled that actual execution did not follow, so oe ps the krises come to the bare esh, * * *

Between the whitewashed walls that snclose the spacious palace grounds feudalism has maintained itself through the ages. Victorian furniture, a few French engravings, and four winged angels of white marble looked strangely out of place in these surroundings. They were the symptoms of a surface intrusion of Westernism, which touches the walls of the palatial porch but does not penetrate the life behind them. In the cities along the coast the Javanese workers are learning to assert their rights by trade unionism and occasional walk-outs, but within the palace walls at Djocja and Solo the native rulers are looked up to as demi-gods, whom one approaches with the humble devotion that ig due to their sanctity.

Curious misconceptions are current concerning Javanese music-the most usual one being that it consists of banging any drum or piece of metal irrespective of pitch, with anything in the nature of a hammer that may be handy. Actually the music is often very beautiful, and is in its general structure quite complex-the most complex of all Oriental music. There are two distinct tonal systems, the Slendro, and Pelog, and they each contain various types of scales. Between the two of them the scales number nearly 300, rather startling to a HBuropean mind used to between three and four dozen. The notes of these scales, which are pitched between our own notes, sound curiously out of tune; the intervals are sometimes smaller; frequently, however, they are larger, Pelog scales have five notes; Slendro, seven, The drummer is the conductor of the orchestra; he it is who gives the rhythm and changes of tempo. I can witness to my own delight at hearing and studying the orchestra rendering noy a stately march, now a stirring battle piece, or again a curiously haunting melody. The greatest weakness in Javanese musical performance, so far as the white listener is concerned, is in the quality of the female voices, which are shrill and thin. Men’s voices are much more melodious, but they have not the same big range as women, and as Javanese melodies are so extended,

it is mainly women who take the solos, men Joining in only occasionally. Education and Unemployment R. H. AMOS, on "Education in its Relation to the Employment of our Young People" (from 2ZW) :- One of the most difficult problems confronting us to-day is the lack of openings for our young people, and little headway is being made in solving the problem. Everyone recognises that the continued idleness of our young people is a grave menace. No doubt much could be effected with the removal of restrictions on the employment of apprentices in the various trades, and it is high time that the Apprentices’ Act was amended so that our future carpenters, plumbers, masons, plasterers, bricklayers, ete., could be properly trained. The attempt in the past to provide a training at the Technical School has not been a success, and has proved a very expensive proceeding. Most of the practical training can be given only on a job by master craftsmen, All that the Technical School should undertake is the necessary theory to supplement the practical work. * ‘*« + Some time ago, it was suggested that many of our young people could be given employment at a nominal wage, or for part time-say mornings or afternoons. This seems an excellent

palliative, but I have not heard that the suggestion has been followed. May I revive it and emphasise that any employment just now, no matter how limited or how lowly paid would be better than none? If the present employment regulations will not allow thisamend them or forget them! * * # Boys and girls should not leave school until they have a position to go to. For those who have no fixed objective, Hngilish literature, history, geography, civics and economics can be recommended. The study of these subjects should not only be a pleasure, but will assist to fill up the present gaps, and prepare the boys’ and girls to tackle a job when they get one, with more satisfaction to their employer and themselves. While many will agree that the suggestion is sound, the question of expense will be raised. In most cases this should not be insuperable. For many years the people of New Zealand haye been so accustomed to looking to the Government to supply the wherewithal, that they have lost much of the initiative and independence with which our pioneers were so amply endowed... "Where there’s a will, there’s a way." Vocational training proper should not be undertaken except in very ¢exceptional circumstances, under the age of 16. All the great nations of the world are agreed upon this, so that we cannot do better than profit by their experience. The most important vocations in New Zealand are those connected with: (1) The professions. (2) The semiprofessions. (3) Farming. (4) Business. (5) Trades. (6) Secondary industries. (7) Domestic. * % = , The question is always being raised whether too many people are endeavouring to enter the professions. Undoubtedly there are, not only in New Zealand but in every country, but it must be remembered that there is plenty of room at the top. Many people endeavour to enter the professions without the necessary ability, and it would be wise for the fond parent first to consider whether his child has the requisite ability and whether he can assist him if he fails to ‘‘make good." Commerce and business offer unlimited openings and advantages. Commerce, the highest type of business, is now recognised as a profession, _ and even in a primary producing coun- | try like New Zealand it offers higher ; rewards than other occupations, and I say this advisedly, notwithstanding the ' parlous position many of our great : commercial firms are in to-day. During the last few years many people have stated that too many people are qualifying for commercial work-but again there are bookkeepers and bookkeepers-secretaries and secretaries-eccountants and accountants. One has only to read the various bankruptey proceedings to learn that many of the bankruptcies (Continued on.page 22.) .....-..

Highlights from the Talks (Continued from page 3.) are caused through lack of bookkeeping knowledge. For the last: 30 years New Zealand bas been pampered and spoiled by our educational system. Education is now so easy that it is not appreciated. Is not this the time to discard many of our unnecessary extravagancies and come down to earth? Have we not learnt that it is only by hardships and sacrifices that we can expect to gain advancement, prosperity and happiness? For the welfare of our country I trust that our Government will have the courage to put the recommendations of the Hconomy Commission re our post primary educational system into effect. Wool MEs. LEWIS, speaking from 2YA on "Wool" s . The history of the world is a matter of dressing and undressing. The sound of the clipping of scissors can be heard echoing down the centuries. Tailors and dressmakers have had a very big hand in the making, not only of the clothes worn by heroes and heroines, but in clothing for our imagination the figures in every notable historic event.

For instance, | have 2 picture in my mind that has always been: there, I think. I can see a wizened old man sitting cross-legged on a floor in the Rast, surrounded by bales of material. A young man is wandering about looking at first one piece of cloth and then at another-a handsome, very young, and rather spoilt young man perhaps, who cannot make up his mind what he wants. At last he gives it up, "Oh, make me a coat and use a bit of each," he says impatiently, as he leaves the old man to his cutting. And so we have Joseph’s Coat of Many Colours-one of the high lights of history. I think it might have happened just like that? Some other tailor made HDlijah’s Mantle, and probably the tailor who fashioned the garments worn by the Conqueror’s followers was influenced to some degree by traditions of the man who cut Julius Caesar’s toga. * * * It was not till John Bell brought 102 sheep from Sydney and landed them on Mana Island on Porirua Harbour in 1834 that the real history of wool in New Zealand began. In 1835 he shipped his clip, described in a Sydney paper as a "small piece of wool," to Sydney. That would have been done up

in bags or sacks probably. Three years later Bell had from four to five hundred sheep on the island, and shipped four bales of wool by the Minerva to Sydney. But the first New Zealand wool to be sold was in these few bags sent over to Sydney less than a hundred years ago-and think of the amazing development! * * * Teach our children that wool is of the first importance to the country. Teach them that the buying and wearing of woollen clothes stimulates the sale of our wool output. Teach them the beauty of wool. Teach them to wear woollen stockings in winter, to wear woollen underclothes; and to recognise the possibilities for beauty in them. Let wool become the fashion instead of silk: Oreate the demand. The factories of the British Isles and Burope are there, and if the demand

for woollen goods is large enough, they will buy our wool to make them of. Help to create that demand by buying woollen stockings, and by wearing them during. the winter months with all your sports clothes, with which they will not only be appropriate but correct. You will be quite safe to make a habit of this. ~ * Woollen underclothing is not at all what it used to be. We still persist in picturing those terrible Victorian garments at any mention of woollen underclothing. But look at the lovely things of fine woven yarn that can only be a delight to wear-the daintiest colours, the most perfect fit. The change in the whole ethics of manufacture, which has created this improvement, has to do with machinery. The old method of manufacture suited the trade to the machinery, and forced the result on the public. Now there is machinery for every grade and every detail of pattern and shape, and success‘ful business can only be achieved by giving the customer what she warits, when she wants it, how she wants it, and at the price she wishes to pay. JThe foundation of enterprise, of progress and prosperity for our eountry is wool. On the sheep farmer and his financial position, hang all the law and the-profiis.

Just as in early nineteenth century English cities, the spread of plagues from. fever-stricken slums to the homes cof the well-to-do provided a dreadful reminder of the inescapable human kinship of different classes, and forced people to consider the problems of poverty, so the present world slump is forcing people everywhere to interest themselves in the solution of such international problems as reparations, inter-allied debts, control of credit and removal of restrictions on trade. Creditor nations are realising that they themselves suffer serious depression when their debtors are impoverished. Even here in New Zealand we are realising that our buying power arising from sale of exports is dependent on events happening in JHurope, India and elsewhere. In a hundred and one ways people are being compelled by circumstances to think in terms of international relations and are realising that national rivalries based on ancient prejudices or clashes of sectional interests are no longer tolerable. Geneva-What It Means

PROFESSOR TOCKER FROM 3YA: Those who are disappointed with the accomplishment of Geneva might be reminded of the enormous amount of detailed work that has Seen successfully carried out in connection with the post-war rehabilitation of BHurope. They might remember that the organisation of the expert staff necessary for international negotiation has been founded and become established. It has been tested in a wide variety of ways, and it has grown greatly in strength. Formerly, when a British foreign Minister, say, visited a foreign capital, his visit was a matter of much discussion, guesses were hazarded regarding the causes of his visit, and the nature of the negotiations he might be carrying on; suspicions were aroused, and the occasion was surrounded by much undesirable publicity which obstructed rather than helped understanding and agreement, Nowadays, the foreign Min-

isters of many leading countries can and do meet fairly regularly at Genthey discuss intricate and delicate political questions, play golf, lunch and dine together, and in: this way reach a much closer appreciation of one another’s personalities, points of view, and difficulties. The closer understanding so reached is an essential basis for international agreement, and it would be difficult to secure without some permanent organisation for bringing such people together for the furtherance of international relations. It must not be forgotten, too, that within and around the organisation of Geneva, there has grown up 2 very solid body of opinion

which aims at securing permanent peace among nations, and in many countries there are active groups steadily working to further this object. To the Labour Conference which I attended in 1930, each States-member was entitled to send four delegates, besides advisers, secretaries, ete., who were, attached to the delegations, There were thus between 350 and 400 persons accredited to the conference, representing more than 50 different countries; and in addition there were many members of the staff. of the Labour Office, technical experts, interpreters, etc. many interested observers, newspaper correspondents, and others. The conference was held in a large public hall. specially arranged. for the purpose. One remembers now the crowd around the cloakroom counter twice a day, gesticulating and shouting excitedly for hats and coats; the artist making pencil portraits or caricatures of celebrities around the conference; the tearoom. where we adjourned to avoid ome unusually long and boring speaker, and where we chatted and smoked and made friends with people from all over the world.

There was the information bureau. staffed by two girls with an amazing knowledge of languages; a publications office where we got all sorts of printed matter bearing on the confer-. ence; the lockers, where mail and papers were left; the post and telegraph office, the writing room, the tourist bureau, and the many committee rooms, All these were around a big entrance chamber which: opened into the main conference room. ) In the conference room was a stage with chairs and tables where sat the president, secretary, and staff advis-

erg‘on the particular questions at issue, the interpreters, official reporters, ete. In front was a tribunal, something like a rough pulpit, from which all speeches were made. A delegate could speak from his seat only on point of order; for all other speeches he had to mount the tribunal. In the body of the hall were seats and tables for the delegates, who were arranged in alphabetical order according to the countries they represented. Hach delegate was provided with earphones and a tuning switch. In front of the tribune were six closed-in cubicles, where sat six interpreters, facing telephones. For important

speeches, as the speech was delivered, interpretations were made into fire separate languages simultaneously. A delegate could then listen direct to the speaker, or, by using his ear-phones and switch, connect up with any one of the five telephonic interpretations. He could thus get the speech at any time ‘in any one of six different languages. Every individual is more or Jess the product of the enyironment in which he has grown up. ‘There are fundamental differences in geographical conditions, in industrial and political structure, in history, customs, traditions, and associations. Such differ-

ences provide the background oF experlence from which one’s individual outlook must spring. They result in differences in standards, in ideas, in personality, and in the approach to and interpretation of the rarious issues that are the subject of international negotiation. Out of such differences there arise misunderstandings. and these misunderstandings must be overcome, for understanding and sympathy are the basie essentials of agreement and cooperation.

Oratory in Europe is stul one or tne arts, and the orator is often an artist in the same sense as a prima douna. He displays qualities and characteristics. which an Englishman wouid associate with the stage rather than with the speaker’s platform. We heard one French speaker at Geneva who would probably haye excelled as an operatic singer. He had a beautiful bass voice of extensive range, which he used very effectively. Te spoke at great length, and after hearing him once or twice, we usually went out to tea when he got into his stride, and returned to hear the translation when he finished. Generally, the Ccntinental speakers are more forcible. more yoluble, and gesticulate more than the English, A — _

friend remarked one day: "I’d like to handeuff one of these guys, and set him to make a speech. He'd be stone dumb!" ; * * w ROBABLY the greatest: value. jin a conference lies in the informal gatherings and the mixing and talking of people, in the friendships made and the understanding developed around but outside the conference itself. Such a conference is the occasion for a great deal of entertaining. There are dinyers, lunches, parties, receptions, dances, ete., where people meet and mix -gocially and get to know one another and one another’s points of view. Some of these bring very. pleasant memories. IT remember lunching with a ¥renchman whose name is known every where, and who told us: "It is the highest evidence of civilisation in any people or in any individual to be able to recognise and appreciate what is best in life, and one of the best things in life is good food and good drink. Here," he said, "the French people excel the whole world." The lunch he provided certainly supported his statement.

Another occasion may serve to lus trate the differences and the extraordinary mixtures that occur in such a gathering. I was with an Englishman at a dinner given by some Indians. After dinner an excellent string band was playing chamber ‘music, which certainly was not dance music. Our host, ‘who wished to see his guests enjoying themselves. and who had seen us dancing the night before, pressed us to start a dance. We did our best, and IY happened to secure as partner the

srife of a Chinese delegate. But 4 tnought to myself: here was I, a New Zealander, in company with an Englishman, the guest of a Hindu potentate in a Swiss hotel, trying to dance American jazz with a Chinese partner, to a German band playing selections from Italian opera. ; * © 2 ESPITE the many difficulties and obstructions much has been. achieved at Geneva since the war. The spirit c£ international co-operation has been inculeated. and the practice of co operation has made definite advances. The organisation and machinery which is necessary for the conduct of negotia- _ -~~ --

tion has become soundly established. he custom of meeting and discussion petween representatives of different nations has been: developed. The difficulties of language have been partly overcome, and the technique. of translation has been brought to a high roint of efficiency. | ee An expert international civil service has been gathered together and is now highly organised for the furtherance of international co-operation. International questions of all kinds requiring expert advice are being handled by committees of highly specialised voluntary workers drawn from many countries. An information and publications bureau has been built up and has produced between one and two million pubLications of various kinds. By means such as these solid and. steady progress has been’ made. There are still difficulties to overeome and much work to do. But one must remember that much of the work is political and continuous. Moreover, there are parish politicians of limited and parochial outlook, and there are demagogues, in international affairs as, well as in national politics. But there are others, able people of high. principle devoting their lives to the pursuit of a noble ideal. Some of thesé are found in Geneva, some in other countries. Looking, out from the League of Nations Building at Geneva, one sees in, the foreground the clear, placid waters of a beautiful lake dotted with ‘pleasure craft. On the far side ate low blue hills, and beyond these hills,

far away in the dim daistance, on a clear day one can sometimes make out the snow-clad peak of. Mont Blanc gleaming in the sunshine. I sometimes think that the occasional glimpse of that high white peak-the highest in ‘Europe-may have some special meaning for those who work at Geneva.