"Dan" Sullivan Bunked Parliament

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 18, 10 November 1933, Page 24

"Dan" Sullivan Bunked Parliament

Christchurch’s Popular Mayor Goes Down from Wellington to Attend Last Big Community Sing-*" Don Bradmans of Community Singing" — Government Buys 3ZC.

OTS of money in the bank for the relief of distress and lots of pleasant memories in the minds of listen-ers-that is all that is left now of the community singing season. Mr. Alan Brown and Dr. I. C. A’Court, mastér mirth makers, have had their last sing for this year. The Civic Theatre was crowded out for it, and radio sets in thousands were on it. It was a grent wind-up to a great season. And over £1150 is in hand as a result of the wonderful work of the song leaders, with the generosity of the faithful desciples of cheer who attended sing after sing, and the open-handedness of hundreds of appreciative listeners all over the country. It is estimated that at least half the sum raised came from listeners, and a competition for a radio set run in conjunction with the sings returned over £100 at "a bob a time." Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast listeners contributed with regularity and generosity, and cash came in quite frequently from Wellington and Dunedin admirers who heard the sings over the air. 2 o 2 HH} Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) has a remarkable hold there on what might be called the "man in the street" and his wife, and his personal appearance at nearly every sing contributed materially to the suecess of the sessions. People who believe in him rolled along just to support their hero. The Labour Mayor did a very popular thing when he excused himself from Parliamentary duties for the final night and made a presentation to the two leaders of a music treasury. By the way, both Mr. Brown and Dr. A’Court desired that there should be no such function, but the Mayor overruled them, and most listeners were behind him in his decision, % * = R. BROWN, one of the city’s legal Inminaries, and Dr. A’Court, prominent in the dental profession, undoubtedly did wonderful work in the way they "pepped up" the sings this year, Christchureh, last year, was not particularly entertaining in its community sings, though the money seemed to come in well enough. ‘This year, however, the sings have gone with a much freer swing and a much greater enthusiasm. Perhaps Christchurch, always a little luke-warm towards something out of the ordinary line, took a little while to warm up to the novelty. In addition, of course, the financial returns have been phenomenal. Mr. Brown and Dr. A’Court are known now as the "Don Bradmans of Community Singing.’ You see, they got their thousand for the season, and topped the century in their last partnership of the year! . ne oo * HM Otago Listeners League, a really live organisation, is making an energetic drive for new members. This league boasts that it is the only bona

fide organisation of listeners extant, because it is not connected with or sponsored by any other organisation, and exists purely to give listeners a chance to have their opinions ventilated .by a representative and responsible body. ‘The leagne has three ecanvyassers on the job seeking new mem-

beys, and within two weeks of the annual meeting of the league 215 subscriptions were received. Affiliation With the Dominion Federation of Listeners is to be considered by the executive of the league. % we * OYA did a good stroke of work on the night of the big fire in Hereford Street. Myr. A. L. Curry took a microphone on to the top of the studio building and put over a description of the fire for the benefit of listeners. It

was quite well done and the effect was enhanced by the’ fact that during pauses in the description listeners could actually hear the roaring of the flames and the hissing of the water on the blaze. The announcement of the location of the fire was also a very real service to many business men, who were fearful when they saw the blaze reflected in the sky that it might be their premises which were on fire, and consequently were considerably relieved when the announcer gave the exact location. ,