CHILDREN'S RADIO SESSIONS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21084, 8 February 1934, Page 6

CHILDREN'S RADIO SESSIONS

[ TO THE BOITOR Or THE I>BES3. : Sir,—l have read with interest your 1 correspondent, "Ariel's" articles every ' Saturday, and being a keen listener-in ' to the children's hour, would like to . make a few remarks, i Evidently "Ariel" has just switched i on for a few minutes and off again, ; thereby not giving the children a fair chance, or he would not have had cause to make the statements he did. ■ If he were to listen to several sessions attentively, he might modify his views. I might mention that Comi mander King-Hall's volume of broadcast talks to children was read from Station 3YA every week during last winter, so that "Ariel" is just sixmonths late. Ho should try again! Also, if our YA stations had money set aside each week for the children s session, as the British Broadcasting Corporation has, they would no doubt be equal to the English ones. As it is, with the exception of one "aunt or "uncle" at each YA station, those contributing to the entertainment of the children give their services gratis. With regard to tie children's voices, if our. New Zealand children really speak so badly, surely this is a matter for "Ariel" to take up with the educational authorities. The children s hour organisers are not responsible for the "primary school twang," and it is hardly fair to blame them for it. My final point is that it must be remembered that "the children's hour" is conducted for the benefit of the children, and not for the entertainment

of adults. It is all very well for "Ariel" to speak of adults listcning-m to the British Broadcasting Corporation children's sessions, but does he not think it possible that children from four years of a#e may be "bored stiff by a programme which is quite interesting to older folk?— Yours, etc February 7, 1934.