BROADCASTING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21954, 1 December 1936, Page 9

BROADCASTING

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. i Sxr, —Some people have to see clowns in the flesh before they can appreciate their antics or their humour. Eb and Zeb at Fuller’s or the Theatre Royal would have brought the house down; on the air they engender homicidal impulses in the breast of “Listener.” Highbrows would strangle the Japanese houseboy and his employer; ,at a “Readings from Dickens” evening these same people would quote ad nauseum the pompous Pickwick and his clownish houseboy, the inimitable Sam. How many of those who ridicule this duo could speak the King’s English as well as Archie? Even Frankie makes a better fist of it than many New Zealanders. —Yours, etc., G.R.B. November 30, 1936.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir.—Your correspondent “Listener” says in this morning’s paper that he wonders what kind of an audience SYL caters for. “Listener” is evidently not a lever of classical music or else he would not wonder. SYL caters for those who are fond of classical music and to those who are capable of judging, chamber music is the highest form of music. There is always plenty of music to suit “Listener,” I should imagine, from 3YA, so why grudge lovers of chamber music their programme. It is too short for us who love it, and I hope SYL will not take “Listener's” advice and scrap it. I think the programmes are well arranged to suit all tastes, so why not allow a few items for those who love chamber music, which is not usually to be heard from 3YA? It is quite easy to turn the button.—Yours, etc., REASONABLE. November 30, 1936.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE PRESS. Sir.—May I suggest to “Listener-in,” whose letter appeared in “The Press” a week or two. ago, that Professor Shelley was appointed to the position of Director of the Broadcasting Service because of his earnestness of purpose, his whole-hearted sincerity and his concern with the well-being of society as a whole, combined with the fact that he is probably the deepest and most serious thinker in New Zealand to-day. For “Listener-in” to “suggest” that such a post should be paid according to the population of New Zealand is ridiculous. Professor Shelley will be cheap at any price. His job will be pretty thankless, and he is sure to come in for adverse criticism: but by pleasing himself he will at least be pleasing someone, and I agree with Mr Twyneham that we should be given what we need and not what we want. In the matter of radio we are rather like so many patients, aren’t we? All questionnaires should be completely ignored. Of course we in Christchurch will miss Professor Shelley very greatly indeed. For nearly 20 years he has been with us, and I venture to say that

no one person ever did more for our betterment than the popular professor. He will, too, be something or a loss to Canterbury College: but, as X see it, in the field of practical education he has been a failure —not because he has not worked and agitated for better education, but because his good advice has fallen on deaf ears, the gods that be regarding themselves as being superior to the greatest educationist to come to our shores. The very facts of our primary school textbooks being the world’s worst, the primary school syllabus a monstrous document, and our so-called training colleges, as at present constituted, being such perfectly appalling institutions prove that his efforts have been largely the casting of the proverbial pearls.—Yours, etc., LISTENING. November 30, 1936.