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Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 2, 22 July 1932, Page 7

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"Tu broadcasting of the Commun-~ ity "Sings" by 2YA has shown a definitely beneficial result to the Mayor’s Fund for the relief of the unemployed. In addition to one cheque for £5, smaller sums were received from listeners as far apart as Tauranga and Oamaru. Other contributions were one ton of potatoes, a pair of goldfinches and 10 pounds of sausages. Mr. Owen Pritchard works hard, but it is worth it-even if he is exhausted after his one and a-half hours of effort. * * * ROM 2ZW, Dr. E. Marsden, permanent Secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, gave a very illuminating address upon the possibilities of increasing the avenues of employment in New Zealand. Regarding goldmining, the surface only of the country had been scratched, and there is no doubt whatever that a scientific geological survey would discover large tracts of gold-bearing country. Notwithstanding the voleanic nature of much of New Zealand, and the known broken strata, it was asserted that rich oilbearing fields were extremely probable. Investigation in this field also needs a_ well-organized and scientific survey, capital for which would be available were commercial activities normal. With the restrictions at present placed upon investment of: capital, a wealthy company intended commencing operations in the near future, so promising do conditions appear, for a profitable return. With the latest machinery, ‘oil production from coal was at present possible,’ which, although not competitive with crude mineral oil, it could product petrol for not more than eightpence per gallon. The electri-chemical extraction of nitratSs; was an industry that must eventally be established in New Zealand, us the natural advantages in waterpower were such that this branch of ‘enterprise promised success. The grass and clover seed industries could. with organied: effort, be doubled in five years, and the apple industry, which now is a very welcome source of national income, could be doubled in six ears. Quoting Professor Keynes in his opening remarks, Dr. Marsden said that there were three kinds of pessimism-all wrong-and, after listening to the analysis of the many industries that can be improved by the adoption of scientific methods, all will concur with. Dr Marsden. * * * N presenting Mr. Ramsay Macdonald (record), Mr. Announcer, 2YA, could not have been more

gracious had Mr. Macdonald been present in person. In view of recent achievements I think most Sassenachs will forgive the Prime Minister his irritating dialect and the saccharine eulogy of Scotland’s jingle writer. x * % FTER listening to all the stations that gave the results of the ‘Wellington Racing Club’s meeting last week, I find that Mr. Announcer, 2YA, and I have been in error. . I had ‘thought that the hamlet where the course is was named after the town of Trentham in England, but now I presume it is named after some place on the river "Trenth," wherever that may be. I lived for some time in Eltham in Kent, but, according to New Zealand pronunciation that typical English village has no connection -with the Taranaki township. Somehow or other I feel glad there are no Northamptons and Southamptons in New Zealand. bd * * ‘ ; : NOTICE the totalisator receipts increased at the Wellington Race meeting last week, and I ascribe it to the topicalities of the Downe family, who left "Doim"’ at home when they visited 2YA. The "relay" was very realistic and the whole show was quite good fun. Mr. Syd.

Reid is becoming a regular broadcaster and tells a tale as well as Nat Gould. Despite his preference at present, for the worst course in the world-rabbit holes and all-A. E. Ellis should, with practise, face the microphone with as much gameness as I have often seen him face the "straight." . m * ECAUSE it was the Sabbath and the day of thought too holy, may have been the reason why 2ZW, in explaining Saint Saen’s "Danse Macabre," omitted to add why the xylophone is introduced in this gruesome composition. Earlier in the evening was given Brahm’s piano concerto, the third movement of which demands brawn. Had the fleshless bone rattle of Saint Saen’s graveyard hilarity been described, I might have thought it was given as a contrast to the concerto. 5 * bd Te design of the B.B.C. house flag consists of a terrestial globe on an azure field representing the ether, with the seven remaining planets in the sky around it. Round the globe is a golden ring representing broadcast transmissions circling the earth. The planet Pluto is not represented on the flag, possibly be-

eause it may be thought by the College of Arms that the ether doez not extend that far. I shall have to enquire of some of the amateur transmitters on this point. * * * TH evergreen spirit of optimism that pervades every message of His Excellency the Governor-General, was given opportunity for expression when 1YA broadcast the official open~ ing of the Auckland Winter Show. The leather-lunged voice of the Chairman of the Show Committee was powerful enough to drown out most of the noise of the fun of the fair, but the din was too much for His Excellency. Listeners were therefore glad that the management were able to subdue the noise, and quieten the band that appeared to think the remarks required musical accompaniment. Attention ‘was drawn, to the educational value of the exhibits, but if recognition of world conditions was viewed with a narrow outlook, the utility of the show could be greatly impaired if not totally neutralized. Factors which govern national prosperity have changed materially during the last few years, and there is no country so utterly dependent for its very security upon overseas trade, as New Zealand. If w. fail to recover and develop our industrial prosperity, it will be due to an insularity of outlook which His Excellency declined to contemplate. Undue concentration upon our own small world of industrial activities could effectively nullify much good which might accrue from the Ottawa Conference. The time is opportune for all citizens of the Empire to take stock and explore, patriotically and unselfishly, the commercial activities as a whole, in the light of public advantage, The exhibitors and visitors alike were asked to contemplate each phase of the show and ask themselves, if, under. existing conditions, the productions were a definite benefit to the country. Industrial reorganisation on an Empire basis appeared to be desirable, and concentration upon productive efforts which liccal conditions made most suitable, seems. essential for economic progress, Reference was made to the complexity of Empire trade agreements, by pointing to the vast employment of British capital | in foreign countries like and its comparatively small employment in the Dominion of Canada. His Excellency visualized a World’ Economic Conference which would follow upon the Ottawa Confevence,..and the breaking down of unnecessary barriers, which prevented a general revival of trade. that

| ee re fWwas needed to establish World Confidence and consequent: prosperity. 2 e x A POPULAR series of dangertalks, entitled ‘"Haziard," in which the narrator tells of an experience of his. own, has’ caused much comment in Britain. One of the.. most daring exploits told, was that by Mr. H..G. Stoker, who, before he broke out as an actor and playwright, was a Commander in H.M. Navy. His story was of his perilous passage in a submarine through the Turkish minefields, and the ultimate sinking: of .an enemy battleship off the Golden Horn. The first story I remember the gallant sailor telling me, was about his being reprimanded for jumping fhrough a Salvation Army drum in a Sydney street. 78 * Fy % JN the W.E.A. session from 4YA, ' Mr. Lloyd Ross, in his talk "Anti-cipations-the future of international trade," gave some very interesting opinions respecting the strangulation’of commercial enterprise, by the erection of tariff barriers. . Definite instances were given, showing how the standard of living had been materially reduced by the creation ef protective tariffs. One case is Germany, and the result complicates the efforts for her rehabilitation. With the shadow of Hitlerism threatening that country, the international investor is reluctant to advance her

SS oe Pd money, yet for the peace and prosperity of the world, foreign money must be found for her rehabilitation. The state of affairs has arisen solely through tariffs operating against German trading. ‘The opinion that less: money is in circulation te-day merely because of restricted credit is fallacious. The actual cause is that tariffs have prevented trading, and less money is needed in circulation for conducting commerce. The whole world has reached the state of. the poverty of self-sufficiency in disregarding the fact, that modern civilization makes all the countries interdependent. An attempt.is being made to restore normal trading conditions by the creation of Imports Boards, which can plan ahead and systematise a virtual method of barter. The object of such boards, functioning with a minimum of political interference, is to safeguard the producer by long-term contracts, prevent price fluctuations, and reduce prices to the consumer. The economie stability that price fixation would give, would be of general benefit to contracting parties, but the necessarily long-term agreement, has the danger of restricting the liberty of both producer and consumer. However rationally sueh boards operate, freer trading conditions must be the objective, which can only be arrived at by the lowering and eventual disappearance of tariffs. It seems strange that sectional interests of communities can have operated so long to the detriment of the communities as a whole. Mr. Lloyd Ross’s papers are always of interest, and it is a pity that static and fading so often interfere with good reception of 4YA at this distance. m wa 2 NE of the most entertaining stories told for some time in connection with New Zealand’s early European history was that related by "Lee Fore Brace’ from 1YA. In this ‘was recounted many episodes. that happened during the passage of the whaling ship "Mermaid of London" on her trip from London to New Zealand via Cape Horn. The "Mermaid" left England in 1795, a few short years after Captain Cook had visited these shores, and during the turbulent days when the French were making themselves generally disliked, in order that Napoleon could become an historical figure. The little craft soon commenced her adventures, for shortly after leaving the East India Convoy she made contact with a French vessel that surrendered after the first broadside. This ship was manned with a prize crew and a course was set for England, where she was sold,. Whaling operations began when the sturdy little vessel lay becalmed before reaching the Equator. Off Rio a .-trader from Australia was bespoken, and among the exchanges made between the vessels was a New Zealand "Indian" who undertook to act as pilot to the "Mermaid." A deseription of a visit to Easter Island was given from extracts from the logbook, which related how the exploration, amidst the gigantic monuments of a dead race of people, was cut short owing to the superstitious fears of the crew. Other extracts,

— telling of mutinous conduct for which members of the crew were flozged, and the preference for salted meat despite the fact that fresh goats’ flesh was available, made a story that Lee Fore Brace revels in. There is many. an hotel in the North of Queensland that has goats’ flesh on the menu under the title of mutton, but even mutton has not been always acceptable to epicurean tastes. The mutton vendor in Holland to-day is searcely more popular than the pork vendor in Palestine, and I would think that the hardy seafarers of 150 years ago made "‘Nanny’s" continual bleating an excuse. Just fancy the. ruffians who signed on for a three years’ voyage for £34 having prejudices. Lee Fore Brace is to relate the operations of the ‘Mermaid" on the New Zealand coast at his next visit, and I shall be there to hear him.

> am) YEAR or two ago a friend, on hearing an exquisite piece of chamber music at a trio recital, after consulting his programme and discovering the composition was by Raff, remarked: ‘""Why, isn’t that the chap who wrote the "Cavatina?" That is just the pity of it. That Wurtemburg’s gifted son is now known almost solely by this one melodious piece of music is the present generation’s loss. As a matter of fact Raff was one of the most industrious and prolific composers who ever lived. His students used to say of him that he ate his meals with manuscript paper beside him, and with pencil in hand. It is recorded that on one occasion, on returning to his composition class after a brief illness, he chided his pupils with idleness, announcing proudly that during the last few days of his illness he had composed a string quartet, several vocal choruses and various smaller pieces. Raff’s immense industry was in keeping with a great strength of character which enabled him to endure severe privations in early life. In the latter part of last century he achieved real distinction both as a composer and a teacher, Lg bs] n OPERATIC and symphonic works of Raff’s were performed with success, and for the last years of his life he was Director of the Hoch Conservatoire in Frankfort. No one need be. in doubt of his. musical

attainments, when it is borne in mind that three great masters gave him sustained and practical aid. Mendelssohn, impressed by some of the manuscripts of the 21-year-old eomposer, introduced him to his publishers, and he was later recognised by Liszt and von Bulow, who included in his piano recitals: Raff’s "Concertstuck." Liszt generously produced the opera "King Alfred.’ A brief half century has passed since Raff died and now he is known as "the chap who wrote the "Cavatina." * = ™ N Sunday week this beautiful melody was played by Miss Ava Symons at the sacred recital broadcast by 2ZW from St. Paul’s proCathedral. This was but one item of a fine programme of organ, violin and choral music. On this oceasion, as always, the fine accompaniments by Mr. Robert Parker brought out the lovely tones of the violin in a way that no ordinary piano aceompaniment can possibly do. This is especially so with the beautiful-toned) organ of St. Paul’s, i % 1s * KN OWLEDGE that Mr. de Mauny’s Orchestra is playing the "Cavatina" at 2YA on Saturday night is all the more interesting when one has the true measure of its ‘composer. Might we hope, not altogether in vain, that Mr. de Mauny will some evening introduce more melodious gems from the pen of this somewhat neglected genius. Raff was a self-taught musician who had to turn his hand to. school-teaching and musical journalism, to. sustain him while he was gaining recognition as a pianist and composer. It seems unfortunate that his best works should pass into oblivion, and we might look to broadcasting to revive any interesting specimens of Raff’s compositions that are available for performance.

"Memories of Other Lands" A Concett Programme of recordings of yocal and orchestral music of many lands, will be broadcast from 3YA on THURSDAY, JULY 28.