VOICE OF NEW ZEALAND

Radio Record, 19 August 1938, Page 27

VOICE OF NEW ZEALAND

Prime Minister’s Plans-New Broadcasting and. Short Wave Centre-Competitions In Wellington -Ranfurly Shield BroadcastsNews From All The Stations

Exhibition by:

RICHARD

ANDREW

¢é ENDERS for the new broadcasting centre in Wellington will be called any day now," said the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in a special interview with the "Record" this week. "The plans merely require the approval of Cabinet for the work to go ahead. "The building, which will be thoroughly modern, will be on the old museum site behind Parliament Buildings, and it will have ample space for expansion in various branches of broadcasting and cultural development." (QUESTIONED about a shortwave station for New Zealand, the Prime Minister said that provision was being made in the new Wellington broadcasting centre for a shortwave station, but this was not likely to come into being for some little time. "But I am certain now as I was when I came into office nearly three years ago, that New Zealand’s voice should be heard in the outside world,’ said Mr. Savage. "We have a High Commissioner in London ‘and trade commissioners in other parts of the world who tell about our produce, our scenic attractions and the work of the Government and people. Well, a shortwave station will supplement the good work that these men are doing." In reply to a question, Mr. Savage said that he did not think it necessary to take any active steps to combat the propaganda that was being broadcast on shortwave by European countries. FORESH from a most successful tour as accompanist for Alexander Kipnis, Mr. Noel Newson ts back at his Christchurch piano and the concert stage of his home town. His work had gained him hosts of admirers before he ever heard of the great basso, but his recent experience has meant that shade of. extra polish that places a pianist in the very first flight. He will be heard from 3VA in a studio pianoforte recital on August 21. Miss Vera Martin, contralto, is on the programme the same evening. ‘A FEATURE of the 2YA prorammes for the week ending August 27 will be the relay from

the Town Hall of the Wellington Competitions Society's grand opera contest. Competitors will be heard over the air on August 24, 25 and 26, and the finalists in this section at 8 p.m. on August 27.

Brilliant Dunedin vocalist and well-known music teacher, Mr. John TT. Leech is apparently as popular in Wellington as he is in his home town. For the second year in succession he has been appointed judge of the vocal music at the Wellington Competitions ‘Society’s annual festival. Mr. Leech has a reputation as a judge of music and for fairness. ‘Cello And Piano EGINNING the usual Monday night Chamber Music hour from 2YA, Nancy Estall (cello), and Bessie Pollard (piano), two talented Christchurch musicians, will perform Boell-

mann’s "Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 40.". Leon Boellmann, composer and organist, entered a musical eollege in Paris while still very. young, and after obtaining various honours at his school he was appointed chief organist at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul, Paris. Boellmann’s output for the or-

gan was not large, but its quality is so good that it has secured a permanent place among musical masterpieces Clashed (CHRISTCHURCH people who go in for modern dancing in their own homes look forward to the music transmitted by the Bailey-Marsden Dance Orchestra at the Winter Garden. Scheduled for broadcast by 3YA on August 20 was the Winter Garden Band, but items have clashed, for, on that night, the main station will be engaged with a rebroadcast of the fifth cricket Test, Australia v. Hngland. Station 83YL will take over the dance. Children’s Party GTATION 47M held a somewhat different relay last Saturday morning, when a children’s party staged in the State Theatre in conjunction with a Jane Withers picture was broadcast. A special picture programme was 4Iranged to support the Jane Withers attraction, but in addition a community sing was held, led by vocalists James MacHarlane and Jack Roberts. For Motorists ET another new feature has appeared on 4ZB’s Friday night pyrogramme, at 10.15. This is the motorists’

session, conducted by Len Bates. Mr. Bates plans to deal with general ear topics and to outline also trips and excursions likely to be enjoyed by motorists. Mr. Bates is an enthusiastic motorist himself, and has just returned | from ‘a long trip in which he visited all the commercial stations. Maori Highlights A DISTINCT novelty as well as good entertainment, and in particular of great interest to Maori listeners, is Lou Pawul’s session on Sunday afternoon from 1ZB. Lou, the only Maori

member of the station staff, presents news items in his native tongue, and then sings Maori songs He is assisred by a talented band of four Maori singers and instrumentalists. Music Recitals PLLUSTRATED music recitals by Mr. Felix Swinstead are listed at national stations as follows: "Mood in Music," from 1¥A on August 5; "How the Composer Works," from 4YA on November 24; and "The Left Hand in Piano Playing," from 3YA on Novenber 13. Mr. Swinstead is visiting New Zealand for the Associated Board of the Royal Schoo] of Musie (R.A.M. and R.C.M.). New Guise ON CH it was called the Christchurch Winter Show; now it has the more dignified and comprehensive title of the "New Zealand Industries Fair’that combination of town and country effort which will open in Christchurch on August 6, Station 8YL Christchurch will give listeners the news of the open-

ing ceremony, which will be carried out with due pomp and ceremony but, listeners may hope, with the speeches limited as to time, Only visiting royalty and reporters really know the utter boredom that is the result of heavy speeches. Immune O singers ever get the ’flu-the measles? Naturally. And so a number of 3YA’s artists have been unable to appear lately, owing to bouts of these distressing complaints. Messrs Ib. and Zeb., the Japanese Houseboy, and Mr. Robison and his Bukaroos,, do

not come to Christchurch, except in réecordings. How singularly unfortunate then it is that they are immune! Maori Home RESIDENCE of the first Maori King, and headquarters of General Cameron during the Maori Wars of 1863, Ngaruawahia, in the south of the Auckland province, has had a colourful history. To-day the town is largely Maori in atmosphere, and an attraction is the annual Maori sports day. Next Wednesday, at 842, Mrs. Maurice Iiurst will be heard in a recorded talk from 4YA, "Ngaruawahia: Past and Present." Male Voices OR many years Christchurch has had its Male Voice Choir which presents traditional and modern partsongs in fine musical stylé. Under the conductorship of Dr. J. C. Bradshaw, this choir is one of the best in the city, but it lacks, nowadays, the attraction of the Cathedral boy choristers, However, it is a big factor in "musiculture" in Christchurch and brings to its aud-

. iences the works of the world’s greatest composers. Station 3YA will broadeast the choir’s concert on August 10. Listeners On Holiday T)AUGHTERS of one of the bestknown band conductors in New Zealand, R. J. Dstall, of Woolston Band, Christchurch, Nancy and Hva Estall are coming up to Auckland from the "city of frosts" next week on holiday for an engagement at 1YA. Nancy is the ’cellist and va the pianist. They will be heard in Richard Strauss’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, Children’s "Sings" BELOVED ‘of all the young who listen to 4YA’s children’s sessions is Big Brother Bill, and Big Brother Bill is as devoted to his vast army of ad-

mirers as they to him. livery year he holds a community sing in the main Town Hall, Dunedin, and 8000 excited boys and girls roll along without fail. This year B.B.B. is going one better, and during the school vacation he will conduct two sings, the first next Monday and the second on August 22. Both of these sings will be broadcast by 4YA from 12,15, 3YA Readings Now "THE NBS is gradually extending its reading sessions and now Mr. O. L, Simmance is to begin one of these sessions on Wednesday evenings from 8 to 8.30 p.m. The first of these readings with musical interludes will be given on August 24, with readings from Jane Austin’s "Northanger Abbey" and the W. W. Jacob short story "Alf’s Dream." Depleted HIS jJast couple of weeks colds, influenza and measles have taken heavy toll of 1ZB’s staff. Several days last week the staff was so sadly de pleted, several typists and receptionists being on the sick list, that three of the

male announcing staff had to be detailed to answer telephones. So should you happen to ’phone the station and, instead of hearing a sweet voice say "Good morning, this is station 1ZB," you hear a deep male voice come in with "Hello," you will know what is _ Boy And The Job ALKS of grave importance to parents are those called "Juvenile and the Job" by Mr. Ralph Winterbourn, of the staff of Canterbury College from 8YA. The first is being given on Tuesday, August 16, and the second on Aug-

ust 25. Mr. Winterbourn has recently returned from a visit to America and Innglard, where he studied the latest trends of vocational guidance. particularly the new methods of fitting the child for his work in life from a very early age. All parents anxious for the futures of their children will find much to interest them in this ontline of modern methods. Northern Sports ‘A FTER a couple of months without any racing broadcasts in Auckland, ‘the new season will be ushered in next Saturday when Gordon Hutter, 1YA’s sports announcer, will be the commentator at the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s meeting on Ellerslie Racecourse AS 1YA will be engaged covering this meeting, 1ZM will handle the big hockey match in which the Indian team is playing at Eden Park. The hockey description will be given by Eric Watts,

sole selector for Auckland,.and an ¢xhockey All Black, ; Young Men’s Band Most members of the Ashburton. Silver Band, under Lieute: int W. H.. Osborne, are young me.: whose concen-. trated effort should yet make the band one of the best in the Dominion. Recent broadcast from 8YA showed many notable improvements in the band’s work, and conductors and bandsmen have writien congratulations . from many parts of the Dominion. It. was proposed recently to record in Welling-

ton some of the band’s. broad¢ast items, but adverse atmospheric conditions 1ade it impossible. Next broadcast by Ashburton will be. on November 7, Radio College OLLEGE where microphone teehnique is taught is flourishing in Auckland at present, almost fifty students are taking a course. There is great interest in. broadcasting these days. In charge are two wellknown radio artists. Ex-Opera Star QETEN featured from 1YA’s studio, Dawn Harding, mezzo-soprano, well remembered as. one of the stars of J. C. Williamson’s Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, which toured Australia and New Zealand, sang a liedér programme last week. She has a voice of quality, and also the artistic equip-

ment so necessary for an adequate interpretation of Brahm’s vocal numbers, In private life she is the wife of the well-known Auckland surgeon, Dr. Chishalm MeDowelL Charity "Sings" THE time has come when the Dunedin Community Sing Committee holds its special appeal ‘days. The first of these, held on Friday, August 12, was the Plunket Day appeal, at which the raising of £300 during the period of the sing was aimed. On September 9 an appeal will be launched on behalf of the unfortunate orphans and students in Ohina; £4 will educate, keep and clothe one child for 12 months.: Later on appeals will be made for the St. John Ambulance Association and the Johnson quadruplets. Pedigree Stakes BW "stunt" session-one that is expected to surpass even the "Laugh of the Week" competition in entertainment value-is shortly to be presented from 1ZB. It will bear the label of "Pedigree Stakes,’ and the intention is to present it twice weekly in the form of a mythical relay from the "Ups and Downs Racecourse," with noises in the background making a good illusion, The idea is for listeners to send in as their entry, a pedigree. For instance Lazybones" ... By -LeadswingerSpitoon Philosopher. That is the idea.

Three prizes will be offered each week. Fifty per cent. of the proceeds-each entry must be accompanied by 6d.-are to be devoted to prize-money, and the other half to deserving sports bodjes. An impartial committee will be appointed to choose prize-winners and to allocate funds to the respective sports bodies. Earlier Time LASTENERS who have become used to tuning-in to 4YA at 9.20 p.m. on a Thursday to enjoy the "Masterpieces of Music" dissertations, should take notice that next week the time of the session hag been advanced to 9.5. The relaying of a ball-by-ball description of the first day’s play in the fifth cricket Test at 9.30 has made the change in time necessary. (Dr. Galway will be in charge, and he will discuss ‘"Chaeonne in D Minor," by Bach. In Sydney WINNER of last year’s "Sun" aria Competition, Albert Chappell, Christchurch, is now a Shell Show artist in Sydney. He was heard in "Radio Pie’ from 2GB Sydney on August 13, and the same night was featured at the Sydney Tivoli at the other end of the town. This meant broadcasting in full make-up to enable him to catch a taxi and answer his call just on the tick. He is reported to be sailing soon for Bngland.

How It Is Done INCH Cushla de Lange has been Singing to the full orchestral accompaniment of wide-range recordings from 1ZB on Tuesday evenings, many listeners have ’phoned the station to ask what orchestra is playing, and, if it is really wide range that is being used ag the accompaniment, how she T- a

succeeds in keeping such good time With the music. This is how it is done. The singer listens through earphones to the accompaniment, and, of course, sings into the microphone, the technician leads in the yoice and handles the orchestral recording to give a proper balance, Shortly it is hoped to bring two other well-known station personalities, Lon Paul and The Wanderer, to sing with wide range. "Benno" And "Betty" "THE former "Benno" and "Betty" pair of 2ZB, Frank Bennett and Miss Iris Mason, are both evidently winning many listeners at station 2KO Newcastle, Australia. ‘Benno" announces before breakfast and sings request numbers between 8 a.m. and 8.10 "am. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The other morning mail and *phone requests totalled 82. "Betty," organist to the Savoy Theatre, is heard in request sessions over 2KO every Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6 o’clock. Play Time LEASING variety is promised in recent play productions of the NBS, soon to be heard from the main National stations. Pure comedy. of the light and irresponsible kind ‘will be heard in "Mrs, Grundy Comes to Tea," a tale of old ladies and scandals that is rich in laughter. Contrasting with this is "My Life With Ernest Rule," a true crime story in play form, based on the tale of one of the wives of a notorious Hnglish -poisoner who had the habit of making love to his wivas while he was giving them the potions. The third production, "Mary, Mary,

_ Quite Contrary," is one of the brilliant modern comedies of St. John Irvine, the famous English author, who writes this time about love in an English vicarage. The visit of an actress to a quiet village gives him scope for some of his wit and philosophy. To Eat GPRING is coming, and with it a change from the meals of winter to the fresh delights that only spring can offer. Advice on what to eat during spring will be given by next Wednesday’s A.C.W, talk from 4YA, when ‘Spring Menus for Spring Days" will be discussed, Incidentally, on Ifriday, the conductor of the A.C.H. session will tell listeners that "Courtesy Counts." Otago Old Boys Q)NE of the major functions of the forthcoming seventy-fifth anniversary celebrations of the Otago Boys’ High School will be the historical gathering on Monday next. At this gathering old boys of the school, including one pupil who attended in the foundation year, 1863, will mingle with boys of to-day. There will be parades of pupils of various decades, duxes of the past, and of fathers and. sons, Brief welcoming addresses will be given by the Mayor (Mr. A. H. Allen),

the rector (Mr. H. P. Kidson), the present life-governor of the school (Mr. EK, EH. Webster), and others. An historical review will be delivered by the president of the Old Boys’ Society (Mr. W. R. Brugh). Old boys in various parts of New Zealand, unable to be present at the festivities, can tune-in to 4YA at 11 a.m. on Monday, Through Drama "PHE use of drama for public utility purposes is increasing. Recently the NBS hag put on plays dealing with deafness and its prevention and treatment, and with the need for better artificial lighting and the means of obtaining it. Now it ’s going into the Road Safety campatgn. Mr, W. Graeme Holder, the well-known dramatist whose work has been a feature of NBS progremmes, has written two short plays for the Transport Department,

with the intriguing titles-‘A House in Priscilla Terrace" and "And That Inyerted Bowl." You may wonder what a house in a terrace, or a line from Omar Khayyam has to do with road safety, but you will s00n learn if you listen in to 2YA on Saturday, August 27, and September 3. Suffice it to say that a lot of people are after the house in Priscilla Terrace, and you know what may happen when people are in a hurry. ‘These little playg have a decided "punch," which will be a good thing, for apparently the public needs sharp teminders of the gravity of the road’s toll. Ranfurly Shield Two Rugby relays will be made from Carisbrook, Dunedin, next week. On Wednesday the Ranfurly Shield fixture, Otago versus South Canterbury, will be commented on by Mr. "Whang’ MacKenzie. On the Saturday he will describe the match of the junior representatives from Southland in their contest against the junior reps. of Otago. 4YA will handle both relays. Farewell, Sproggins Me. SPROGGINS, husky-voiced in- " dividual responsible for much quaint humour from 4ZB in recent weeks, ‘will be heard no more from the southern commercial. His most whimsical episodes have been associated with the Amateur Trials session, in which his strange buffoonery has served to place competitors *t their ease and to remove all thought of "mike" fright. Mr. Sproggins’s identity was revealed the other Saturday night when he wag farewelled by the station director (Mr. Len, J. Greenberg), and others.

He is Mr. H. Asquith, the station's advertising manager, and his performances end through his transfer ‘to 2ZB, Mr. Asquith not only donned the cloak of Mr. Sproggins, but also acted the part of "Barney" and a terrier dog. For DX-ers POPULAR with listeners who tune in to 1ZM are the DX sessions conducted by the well-known Dx-er, Mr. Andrews, on alternate Tuesdays from 7to 7.80 p.m. Information of all sorts is given by Mr. Andrews, who goes to pains to answer correspondence, especially from those who have just bought sets anid desite to know the best stations on both the shortwave and broadeast band. Soprano PASSING through Wellington, Reta ~ Stone, well-known Auckland soprano, will give a recital from 2YA on August 25. ‘This talented artist, who recently took the lead in the Dunedin amateur production, ‘The Vagabond King," with high success, will sing «a bracket. of esser-known songs. Oddities HERE used to be a story about an unemployed man who was .complaining that times were hard; and when a citizen asked him what he was, he replied, ‘a coronation programme seller.’ Mrs. BE. Macgregor, who comes from India, is to give a talk on "Odd Occupations" on August 23 from 2YA. She will tell of the curious means of making a living in the cities of the Bast. ,