TWO NEW SERIES

Radio Record, 4 September 1936, Page 58

TWO NEW SERIES

EEE S teeteneeee cnet ALTHOUGH there isn’t even a label over the door of the Supervisor of Talks for the National Broadcasting Service at the head office in Wellington, that doesn’t mean that Mr. Alan Mulgan isn’t hard at work. Talks have to be thought out-especially if a series is contemplated-thoroughly | planned, and built up for the listener. And in some cases this is anything but an easy task. Choice of subject, subject matter and speaker, have to be considered and approved, and occasionally the supervisor encounters serious snags. When it was decided to develop the idea of personal recollections of famous New Zealanders, it wag found difficult to "cover" many of the wellknown names of New Zealand old-time figures with talks by people who actually knew well the personalities intended for inclusion. For instance, there aren’t many people alive here to-day who knew Sir George Grey well enough to talk about him over the air, and even if they did, there is the question of capacity to speak for a broadcast. Toothless and thin-voiced old-timers mightn’t register very well. Fortunately for his peace of mind. the Supervisor of Talks draws the line at trying to find personal acquaintances of Bishop Selwyn and Governor Hobson. However, he has the start of this series settled, and the talks are to be delivered from various main national stations over the next two or three months. Political figures will naturally have a share in this series. but leaders of the past in sporting spheres and other interests will also receive attention. The series is to be called "A Famous Man I Knew," and the first will be delivered by Sir James Hutchinson, of Dunedin, whose subject is Sir Julius Vogel. This talk is to be broadcast from 4YA .on September 10. The two knights were formerly associated in newspaper work. From 2YA on October 6 the second talk will be given by Mr. Tom L. Mills, of Feilding, his subject being Richard Seddon. Mr. Mills saw a great deal of the staunch old political leader during his premiership, as the speaker was then a Parliamentary reporter for a Wellington newspaper. Mr. F. S. Murray, of Auckland, a former New Zealand representative footballer, is to talk on.. Dave’ Gallagher, captain of the 1905 All Blacks, from 1YA later in the same month. It is hoped that. Anthony Wilding will be the subject of another talk from 3YA. Another series will be most topical. Its name is "Let’s Build a House," and it is designed especially for those whose intention is to take advantage of whatever housing schemes may be set going in the Dominion-or anybody else who would like a little idea of the work and considerations entailed in house-building. The first of the three talks will introduce Tom, Mary, and

their architect, discussing suitable sections and styles of building to correspond with the selected site. Sketch plans are devised, and in the second talk these plans have partly materialised, for listeners by now will find Tom and Mary visiting their home-to-be and discussing things with builders, carpenters and other artisans, and finding out a lot they didn’t know before. At last the house is completed, and the third talk will contain the "settling up" business which follows the completion of any such work. The dates for these three talks, from 2YA, will be September 15, 22 and 29. Maori poetry is the subject to be dealt with in three further broadcasts by Mr. W. W. Bird, formerly Senior Inspector of Native Schools, and later Chief Inspector of Primary Schools. These talks will set out to contrast the real old Maori songs with the songs that are usually sung now in Maori entertainments. Mr. Bird has made a particular study of this, and will be making use of material not known to many Europeans.