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Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 22, 9 December 1932, Page 8

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SPARK

Ne one will deny that we are a yery law-abiding community, and few ‘would claim that before the enactment of recent. regulations we were unruly people. There were a negligible few, however, who truly believed that when smokers received a gift coupon with an ounce of tobacco we were soliciting the Prince of Darkness to lead the country toward everlasting damnation. It must have been a great relief to those earnest souls to see legislative action taken to prevent our further perversion. But what a rude shock must have been felt when subsequently they heard that smokers and nonsmokers alike were under obligation to the Dominion Tobacco Company for the breakfast session from 2Z4W. We have lately missed the familiar announcement. I understand regulations are responsible, and the session is now being supported by the funds of the 2ZW Club. The invariable inclusion of an address, which, if 1 forget not, mentioned a town only, and had no embroidery like Karangahape Road. was, I believe, sufficient to anger reguJation. For the life of me, I cannot teli now whether the town was Wellington or Napier, or any other city in New Zealand, and I don’t suppose very many others could either. It didn’t hurt so much that it left unpleasant memories.

A VERY interesting and entertaining * talk from 3Y¥A was that entitled "The Philippines," given by Mr. George Lawn. In a brief topographical outline of the archipelago, which contuins some 7000 islands, the varied climate, ranging from equatorial to the temperate, and a short historical sketch of the inhabitants, the speaker said that no territory offered a wider field for the special study of various sclences, and particularly the study of social science. In the Philippines, the two largest islands are. Luzon and Mindanao, and these contain the majority of the population. Although the archipelago is mountainous and well deyeloped in certain regions, there are large areas of fertile plains and twenty million acres of suitable land, as yet untilled, still available for agriculture. Spain has had association with the Philippines for over three hundrerl yeans, and her influence upon a yery fine people is still observable. Unlike the Japanese Islands, no problem of over-population confronts the inhabitants of the Philippine Archipelago, for with a population of but 13,000,000 and an annual increase of about 200,000, the large areas of uncultivated land and vast undeveloped natural resources are eapable of absorbing a very much larger number. Contact with the white races has not been detrimental to the Rilipino, who has acquired easily and ' naturally the many Huropean customs.

[HE Filipino takes great interest in political issues, a fact that is demonstrated when an election might see eighty per cent. of those entitled to vote exercising their right. The women enthusiastically engage in activities for social reform, and although hampered by several languages and dialects, the people are united and competent in social administration. "Nothing could be further from the truth that they are savages," said Mr. Tawn, ‘The egotistical white man, who thinks the coloured races exist for his benefit and exploitation, is woetully ignorant of the capabilities of many of the present subject races. Sucn misunderstandings give stimulus to boyeotts and non-co-operation movements, and a prerequisite to economic world recovery is the recognition of the rights of other nationalities. Malayan, Chinese, Mahommedan’ and Hindu influences are all observable in the Filipinos, and Spain gave the islands 2 unity which saw a large meusure of industrial progress. Considerable disappointment was felt by a certain section in the Philippines when American suzerainty was established after the Spanish-American War. It was expected that the agitation for complete independence prior to the war, would be granted after America’s defeat of Spain. Guerrilla warfare continued for some years, but for all that American overlordship has Leen of great benefit to the Filipino. Seventy per cent. of the Philippines’ trade has heen with America, and when-within fifteen years-the VLS.A. retires from the Philippines, the people will realise an ambition of many years, and their administration will haye marked effect upon yarious Govervnments in the East,

T is to be hoped that when America grants full independence to the Philippines, the unity founded by Spain ind consolidated by America, will continne. Surely no one asserts that colcured races cannot rule efficiently. Japan and Stam are examples of countries very well controlled in difficult circumstances. The Filipinos are we'ti ccucated and advanced, but they are not all one people, and diverse elements ¢xist in mountainous regions, and in the south. Also around the Sulu Sen there are probably as many uncivilised, is we recognise civilisation, as any. where in the world. Without the kindly patronage of a powerful nation. the Philippines could easily become dis. united, and with a land-hungry, virile nation to the north, and an enter prising people on the west, who may. although it is unlikely, desire to extend their domain, it is to be hoped, for the benefit of all the world, that

America remains the Filipinos’ detached custodian. * x Prom 2YA, Mr. A. E. Wilson, of the Government Tourist Department, drew an alluring picture of Spirits Bay as a Christmas holiday resort, for those intending travelling north, and whose interest might extend beyond the at-

fractions offered by the Auckland Rac ing Club. It is a long way to go into the winterless north, where the rain falls in sheets, just to imagine the departure of spirits, when they can be visibly observed departing-with other more solid substances-at Ellerslie. I’ve never been beyond Ellerslie myself, but I would like to see the cuuntry where the early pakeha ingratiated himself with the Maori. The legend about the disembodied souls somehow doesn't appeal to me, for if they wished for a good jumping-off place in their journey

to the Himalayas, Taranaki would have heen ideal, even if the Three Kings were foreign country. The Maori had his legends all wrong, «anyhow. He likened the North Island to a fish, with Port Nicholson as the mouth. They don’t get earthquakes in the north, so when we get one in the torso it looks like the tail wagging the body, which isn’t right. I have heard, theugh, thut owing to the narrowness of the peninsula at Auckland, the top end sometimes waves about in the breezes, for which the north is famous. If it wete to break off the difficulty of getting back ‘would be increased, so Mr, Wilson must recommend the trip without any encouragement from me. ° ss ts IIE concert by the Hutt Valley Miedertafel broadcast by 2YA proved a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment. it was evident that the Liedertafel had devoted the necessary time to rehearsal, for some of the choral work , was excellent. Particularly pleasing was the phrasing in all the concertesl numbers, and eredit is due to every member and to the conductor for refined finish in some of the choruses. The songs by Mrs, Wilfred Andrews were, as listeners always expect from this talented performer, some of the gems of the evening, and Miss Prudence Lewis, one of Wellington’s young violinists of promise, showed an’ appreciation of tone and‘musical interpretation that was delightful to hear,

XE corrupt Sassenach often finds it difficult to extract pleasure from listening to Scotia enjoying herself in musi¢ aud song, and on such occasions multitudes almost agree with Dr. Johuston that music is one of the least objectionable of noises. Some Saxons have been known to attend a Scottish concert to see the beautiful garb that often induces him to join the army, and with stimulated bravery ‘guffers the doleful melodies that wot# lead the misinformed to believe that the North Briton was a defeated race. But the most corrupt Southron invariably hears with unfeigned pleasure’ the talented "Stark Family" in both traditional and modern items, and the Caledonian Society itself neyer better conyeys the impression of the Scots’ indomitable spirit and traditional hospitality. Both Wellington stations rightly devoted St. Andrew’s Eve to. the honour of Scotland, although 2YA; made the relish about half soda. 2ZW. added cloves with Mendelssohn’s "Seotch Symphony," which the fractious agsert is not Scotch at all, although they reluctantly admit that without the inspiration derived from au visit to the redoubtable people of Bonnie Scotland, the opus would never have been composed.

"‘ Shakespearian Recital " A recording by Sir. Johnston Forbes-Robertson The eminent English Shakespearian authority, will be broadcast from 4Y A on Wednesday, | December 14.

N continuing his illuminating and entertaining lecture on Maori mythology, Mr. Johannes Andersen (2YA) effectively disposed of the contention held by some that because.the Maori had no written language, legendary lore was liable to distortion. A remarkable instance of memorising by an old Maori was given when, at a native land court, he was required to recite his genealogical tree, which occupied some three days and included more than a thousand names. In the belief that possibly the witness might have included extraneous names it was simulated by the court that the written record had been mislaid.and the old Maori was requested to repeat the tabulation. This he did faultlessly and with a conviction that memorising was a better method of preservation than writings which could be lost. Another interesting fact mentioned by Mr, Andersen was the sacredness of the name of the Supreme Diety,' who was never alluded to within the hearing of common people or within a building. The Pakeha’s almost casual reference to, and familiarity with, the Almighty, was extremely offensive to the old Maori’s religious susceptibilities. This sanctity of the name of the Supreme Being is usual among many Eastern peoples, and the Chinese of a generation ago with their thousands of household and departmental gods left mention of the Great Architect’s name as a prerogative of their Emperor. & * * OYA listeners are never disappointed when Mr. H. Temple White has the baton, and the final concert of the Apollo Singers on Saturday night was fully up to expectations. Subscribers to the society should feel very satisfied with the whole season and should look forward with pleasurable anticipation to the new year. A charming contribution to the programme was the playing of the first movement of Grieg’s Violin Sonata in G Major by Miss Ava Symons and Mr. Hrnest Jenner. The well-earned recalls, which gave listeners Schubert’s "The Bee" and Pierne’s eyerpopular "Serenade," were inclusions for which every lover of the violin (and who is not?) would be grateful. = a) & OF Grieg’s three sonatas for the violin and pianoforte, the second in G mayor is sometimes called the dance sonata. . It was published in 1869. In this work Grieg reveals himself as the true Norwegian. He breaks with the old form of sonata and writes a passage with a dance motif as the main theme and a ballade motif as the secondary theme; and gives the whole piece a rhapsodic form, so that the™@ passage is really a symphonic poem, full of life and dramatic elimaxes, To further quote Ulfstrad,. the second movement contains a beautiful song theme, which he has used and developed in the romanza in the third sonata. The third movement is full of youthful enthusiasm, vigour and joy of life. This sonata was composed in the first and most vigorous period of his life, and no doubt his old friend and original patrol, Ole Bull, the famous Norwegian violinist, influenced Grieg in the direction of writing effective music for the violin particularly. Cobbett tells us that Grieg’s chamber music has been much eriticised for the shortness of phrases and their illogical treatment. Grieg was not a logician but a poet, one of the new school of Scandinavian poets which arose in his time, and he hap-

pened to choose music as his, medium of expression in preference to literature. Cobbett’s own impression has always been that musicians are more moved by Grieg’s music than they are willing to admit. They are subconsciously aware of his powers, not as a musician but as a tone poet, which is not quite the same thing. Such a unique personality as Grieg’s has rarely been seen in the world of art. Frail in physique, with ultra-delicate sensibilities, he was yet able to vent his emotions’ with voleanie energy.