CLYDE CARR —Supercharged

Radio Record, 26 June 1936, Page 6

CLYDE CARR —Supercharged

Specially Written for the "Radio \

Record

by

SPECULUM

$6 ‘ LL things by turns and nothing long"that has been the record of the subject of this sketch. But one does see life. Sticking to one’s last needs only a bit. of cobbler’s wax anyway and is a monotonous occupation for a man who loves change and variety. The Rev. Clyde Carr was a minister for 20 years, but during that period took a turn ’.at "various side-lines, including free-lance journalism, literary hack-work and radio announcing. His conduct of the first children’s song service over the-air in New Zealand, as "Uncle Sam" from 3YA, had to take the place of ordinary evening worship for him inthose days, but he supplied a regular pulpit in the mornings. The son of a veteran Methodist minister of honoured memory. the Rev. T. G. Carr, Clyde had an early and long experience of what is known as the "itinerant system." Our friend has known the doubtful joys of gipsy life, and wanderlust is in his bones. Perhaps it is the constant exercise, combined. with great nervous energy that keeps the six feet of hin: lean and fit as a fiddle. ; After several primary schools came four years at Nelson College under the principalship of. the late redoubtable W. S. Littlejohn, later Dr. Littlejohn, for many years head of Scots College. Melbourne. The doctor’s ex-pupil called upon: him during one of several visits there, and reminded him of his parting word at Nelson: "Carr, be your best self." "1

did not say that," growled the doctor; "I said. ‘Be yourself.’ " To one who, though not really a bad boy, 2s Littlejohn once remarked. gave his master such a bad time this was generous, and perhaps discerning.

One of his form masters, and one of the best of them, in spite of the "Latinisea J ohnsonian, polysyllables" wnied f ‘he used to practice on his pupils, and ‘still parades, was Frank ("Cocky") Milner, now Rector of Waitaki. Indeed, most of the masters who sérved under "Porky," as he was called, became principals of secondary schools. They were a good team and it was with their help and encouragement that Carr matriculated. Another untimely move took him ‘into four years’ penal servitude with the Bank of New South Wales. The work was hard, the routine uncongenial, and the hours were long Indeed, the local institution was popu- ‘ larly known as "the lighthouse." After a year of "baching" with a dozen boon companions, the family having again moved on. he rejoined the domestic circle, taking a position us cashier, ledger-keeper and confidential clerk in a soft goods store. Thus a year of more long hours and dreary routine, and Carr was offered ithe position of a "home missionary." Eighteen months of ae as the white-haired boy of the dear old ladies of the congregation, and then away to the theological college and the uni« versity for three years, But even though he spent a further two years at other of our university colleges he was usually more congenially and perhaps more profitably’ employed sketching his class-mates, making odes to the sunset or sonnets to his mistress’ eyebrow than listening to the drip, drip of dreary lectures. "Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring." But languages and literature were never dreary to him. He isa ‘varsity prizeman in Dnglish composition. Three years as a "probationer" followed. He was then, a year ahead of his time, ordained and sent to missionary work among the sixty thousand Indians in Fiji Becomitg’. ineligible for a promised two-year period of further trainings , in India. he returned to New Zealand and joined the Gongtegationalists. Over a term of years he ministered in three pastorates, holding high office in his denomination. 'Tlien he joined the Labour movement and began in his preaching to apply Christian principles to problems of life and labour, sO much to the chagrin of his church committee that they resigned in a body. _. Six, years. he served on the Christchurch City Council and the North Canterbury Hospital Board, being chairman of several important committees. Then he was: nominated to stand for Parliament in Timaru. A month’s campaign and the seat was won from the Hon. F. J, Rolleston, Attor-ney-General. Carr hag retained the seat with doubling

majorities each time Betiween the period of active service in the church and his Parliamentary cateer, he was ; assistant editor for Whitcombe any Tombs, Limited, writing or revisin niany educational and other publica(Continued.on page 15.)

Next week’s character sketch will be of the Hon. Matk Fagan, Leader of the Legislative Council.

Rev. Clyde Carr

(Continued from page 6.) tions, and collecting material for the new edition of Currie and Alexander's "Treasury of New Zealand Verse." Two years he was managing-editor for Andrews, Baty and Co., Limited, For sixteen months he was announcer ¥ at station 83YA and Uncle Sam to the children. His reputation as an dnnouncer still stands supreme and his popularity with the children wags Aa thing’ to marvel at. Three years ago he was elected vice-president of the New Zealand Labour Party, and this year he is National President. He is particularly interested and well: informed regarding educational matters and broadcasting, being chairman of the education committee of the House, and associate of the present Minister of Education. Clyde Carr's dominant ambition is to be a man of letters. and he has had published much prose and vei'se He kas. been also a popular singer and reciter and an amateur actor. His interests are many and varied, and his sympathies broad and deep. He is instinctively generous in his judgments strongly emotional, impulsive, companionable to a fault. with a boisterous humour and a slumberlug temper easily Aroused, He. inherits through — his mother, "of the royal Stuart: line,’ .the independence . of, sturdy: pioneers, who arrived in. Auckland in 1842,