“CURTAIN-RAISER” TO ROYAL TOUR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14757, 24 August 1948, Page 6

“CURTAIN-RAISER” TO ROYAL TOUR

MAKING RECORDS FOR 8.8. C.

Activities Of Unit At Rotorua

Tauranga Represented At Recording

The green Siton mobile recording unit of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service rolled into position, microphone lines were reeled out, and in a few minutes a Maori carpenter was having his voice recorded, as he answered questions about the part he was playing in the native housing scheme. The record made at Whakarewarewa will be part cf a 8.8. C. programme about the history, manners, customs and way of life of the Maori, which will be broadcast in England as a “curtain-raiser” to the Royal Tour next year, states the Rotorua Posh Tauranga was also represented at the recording. Material for the programme is being gathered in New Zealand by Mr D. G. Bridson, senior features producer for the British Broadcasting Corporation. A leading figure in the broadcasting coverage _of the Royal Tour in South Africa, Mr Eridscn' is cutting discs for an allMaori show, and for background programmes to be broadcast during the "tour. Some of the records made in Rotorua, for instance, will be used in England cn the day the King and Queen arrive in Rotorua. Short interviews with typical New Zealanders for immediate inclusion in Australian programmes, are being made by another member of the party, Mr Wilfred Thomas, of the Australian*) Broadcasting Commission.

All the equipment -that Messrs Bridson and Thcmas use is being provided by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. In their two days’ stay, the party has interviewed Maori farmers, carvers, carpenters, children in Schools, and has made records of traditional songs and dances. A visit to Horchoro was made and four parties presented at Ohinemutu chants, songs and hakas that are rarely heard by tourists. Familiar nr hackneyed items were avoided, although a cutting was made of “Now Is The Hour.” A record was made of the service at St. Faith’s Church. Children at the Whakarewarewa school were a merning target, and their singing and even some of the more vocal school lessons were captured in wax.

“I am gathering largely descriptive material, by chatting to New Zealanders; for instance, farmers, old residents and so on,” said Mr Bridson. “Out of these conversations, I shall construct programmes which will be played bv actors.” There would probably be three 8.8. C. news commentators to cover the New Zealand Royal Tour, said Mr Bridson. In the South African tcur there had been three news commentators, and himself, in addi-. tion. He had been able to compile three or four big broadcasts during the actual tour, but he would probably be in London to supervise production while the New Zealand tour was in progress.