Pack Up Your Troubles and SING

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 4, 5 August 1932, Page 1

Pack Up Your Troubles and SING

Community Singing from 2YA is as popular as ever

Bye’ Wednesday there : congregates in the Wel- | Town Hall a large number of people, young and old, to have a merry sing-song under the direction of Mrs. Albert Russell and Owen Pritchard. The aim of. the sings is twofold-to provide cheer for those who participate and those whe listen, and to-augment the Mayor’s Fund. In the city are many cases of dire distress, and each. year the Mayor’s Fund has been inaugurated to provide assistance for those in need. This fund generally . meets. with good response, and in the past has been greatly helped by the community singers. The sing-songs are always bright and ‘cheerful, and take people’s thoughts away from the difficulties that beset them. At the same time there is a constant reminder for those who can to send in a donation, no matter how small, to help swell the fund. From all over the country come letters of appreciation of the good work done by these sings: Almost all are unanimous in voicing their approval of the idea and say that it is-one of the most popular features broadcast. Letters come from young and old, from well-to-do people and from those not so well off, from those who have seen good times and those who are on the up-grade, and neatly all enclose donations which, according to circumstances, range from 6d to £5, or even more. For some people the

sending of money is an impossibility, and they do their bit by sending either some hand-made article or produce of some déscription. _ Some send’ knitted garments and clothes of all descriptions and others livestocks; and as much as a ton of -potatoes has been received for disposal. A set of etchings comes from one listener, who says that she has not the ability at knitting or with needle and thread, and so has done what she could to help swell the fund. "Until the last week or so difficulties arose when i it came to handling livestock and produce, but arrangements have been made with Messrs. Townsend and Paul to dispose of these through their markets. Contributions now can be accepted in any form of saleable goods whatso- ._ ever. , Letters come from all over New Zealand and are written in : various strains. Here is an excerpt from a Paekakariki letter, whose writer is evidently well on in years: "I feel like 16 years of age, singing away with all of you there instead of being what I am, a grandma. All my birds I have reared have flown away from our roof to homes of their own, but I am not lonely when the radio is about and the voices of the hall can come into my home, and I will join. in a, with . them,’ and: perhaps feel-16-once more."

Another one: "I must tell you how much we enjoy this hour in Stratford. It keeps us cheery iri spite of bad times-real Taranaki winter weather. We are nearly _all cow cockies here, you know, but the rain makes the grass grow, so why grumble?" And this writer encloses a handsome cheque for £5, Another one: "You say you could hug all singers? Well, I sing, too. From Cressie, Christchurch, with love and kisses." Mr. Frank Crowther, the popular pianist, was absent last week, and many comments were made. One had set her complaint to music to the tune of "Bring Back my Bonnie to Me"-"Bring back, bring back, oh bring back my Frankie to me." A correspondent starts : "Dear Owen,--Yes, that’s right, I have paid my two bob ‘for that privilege," and encloses five shillings. A listener in Wairoa cémmences his letter: "Enclosed please find 2/- from the city of bumps and shakes. Keep going. The sings are good." A writer up in the King Country declares that the sings are absolutely the best broadcasts they get. Here is a letter written in a spiritual vein: "I wonder how many of your singers realise the spiritual value singing has has in the great scheme of things One song, ‘The Promised Life,’ puts it thus, ‘Sing on, oh heart, His angels ever list. His angels shall make perfect our imperfect life."

A bright letter comes from three Scotsmen in Dunedin. "We have just been listening to your ‘materinity sing’ and wish to let you know how much we enjoy it. Although we come from a Scotch city, we don’t like to take it for nothing, so please’ find 3d enclosed. Sandy, Donald and Jock." In this letter were three separate penny stamps. LETTER comes from a returned soldier: & "Please find enclosed a few articles made by myself. I am unfortunately one of the disabled soldier-patients at the city home." A great tribute to the community singers is paid hy this writer of Taranaki: "I must send you a few lines of appreciation of your cheerful singing I have just been listening to. Although coming from Auckland I am staying in Taranaki and I have just had my ninety-third birthday, and my eyesight is very dim, but thank God I can hear your lovely music and that you are making so many people happy in these times. I hope my boy will post this on his way to Wanganui. He is 72 years old. I would like to send you something, but I am too far away to get a postal note, but can send my love to you all and your-happy. family in Wellington. Your singers have made | ' tears come into my eyes. I feel so happy (Continued on page 13.)

Community Singing

b let (Continued from page +1.) , and so young again. This is the first time I have heard your sing." ‘The handwriting displays that its writer is well on in years. It is unsteady and shaky, but is legible withal. Every seat at the Town Hall was filed on last Wednesday, July 27, when the Women’s Institute delegates from all,over New Zealand attended

and lent their yoices to swell: the strains of the favourite community sing-songs. The institute song, 2000 copies of which were specially distributed throughout the hall, so that all could sing, was a wonderful success, Introducing the delegation, the secretary, Mr. Palliser, remarked: "Give these ladies a real reception. We hope the Mayor’s Fund will be appreciably increased by their presence and that we have a bumper collection." The delegation arrived to the chorus of | "Tipperary" and afterward presented | their Women’s Institute sorig which is set to the tune of the "Londonderry Air." The audience joined in, At its conclusion there were calls for the author, and Mr. Pritchard then introduced Miss Bibby, who was seated on the stage... Miss Spencer, representing the Women’s Institute, then spoke, giving greetings to all listeners-in throughout New Zealand, Australia, and perhaps the world. Mr. Palliser remarked that Miss Spencer. represented the Women’s Institute which in turn represented 20,000 people’ scattered throughout New Zealand. ‘The organisation was doing wonderful work. In reply, Miss Spencer thanked everybody for the magnificent reception they had received in Wellington, and hoped that the movement would do much _ to Strengthen the bonds of Empire. The presence of the Women’s Institute delegates, who were from all parts of New Zealand, must have done much to establish the goodwill of the organisation throughout this country. Evidence of this was given when, later in the proceedings, a telegram arrived from the family of the Tikokino representative, saying that in his mother’s absence they were all having a wonderful time and asking "Owen" to demand five shillings from her. The delegates left at about 1.20, and as they were leaving the hall Mr, Pritchard led the crowd in singing "Goodbye" and "Pack Up Your Troubles." Small goods sent for sale are sometimes auctioned, but usually taken round by the Red Cross girls who are present and offered for private sale, The donor usually marks a price and, failing this, one is assessed usually by Mrs. Albert Russell. Usually these articles realise a fair price, but sometimes. they go rather too cheaply owing to their having to be disposed of quickly, However, the arrangement with Messrs. Townsend and Paul will get over this difficulty. AS a sample of the variety of things that have to be sold, sometimes at auetion, include the following: Nightdress cases, bed socks, hams, rose cuttings and knitted garments of all descriptions, As an evidence of the latest craze for knitting it is quite a common sight to see at these community singsmany of the fairer sex of the audience busily engaged in knitting during the sing. Up to date the sum of £179/19/10 has been realised. Although the number of contributions this year has been less than previously, the aggregate sum has been the same. It has been found that most of the donors are giving larger sums than formerly so, if you want to help the Mayor’s Fund, send in a donation to the secretary of the Wellington Community Singing, eare of 2YA, Wellington. It will be acknowledged over the air. If you have any livestock or produce, remensber ‘to send them to the Mayor’s Fund, care of Townsend and Paul, auctioneers, Wellington, '