N.Z. Anthem Once Regularly Sung in Dunedin

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 18, 10 November 1933, Page 16

N.Z. Anthem Once Regularly Sung in Dunedin

To the Editor, Sir,-I noticed in the "Radio Record" correspondence columns a letter’ by "W.H.," Onehunga, in which he refers to the relay of the "Bright Side Up" company’s recent concert, broadcast from 2YA, and the very poor respénse in ‘singing the New Zealand anthem, "God Defend New Zealand," by the audience.*- During my boyhood-days-in

tr tte OTe SiE Dit tit i) Dh) te ie Dee le de Dee Dd) Di) ie ie Dt) Dd) De 2th Dl i di dk Mornington, Dunedin, the late Thomas Bracken, the author of the anthem, was a resident of that district, and the New Zealand National Anthem was sung in most of the Dunedin schools at that period. The music of the anthem was composed by Mr. John J. Wood, a resident of Lawrence, Otago. It can also be procured in the Maori language. The New Zealand Scout Contingent which attended the International jamboree in England during the year 1929 sang the anthem at many public gatherings during the tour, and many ex-New Zealand residents in Hngland expressed pleasure in hearing the anthem after a lapse of many years. As a regular listener to‘ the YA stations. I trust the Broadcasting Board could revive the anthem by including it in their programmes, and by so doing perpetuate the memory of the New Zealand poet and also help to inculcate those high ideals of citizenship in the minds of the younger generations which are so aptly expressed in "God Defend New Zealand.’-I am, ete.,

Auckland,

G. E.

MORETON