2ZB BROADCAST

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22073, 22 April 1937, Page 4

2ZB BROADCAST

TO THE EDITOB OF THE PEEBS. Sir, —May I be permitted space to reply to a letter in to-day's issue over the nom de plume "Thumbs Down." ' If "Thumbs Down" is so embittered , against the Rev. C. G. Scrimgeour, why did he listen for a whole nour—why ' not shut off 2ZB until 8 p.m. He knew | that at 8 p.m. a different class of programme would be presented. But no, he did not switch on. The address was I too interesting and he enjoyed it. He realised its common sense.. He began to see how he could help his less fortunate fellows. He began to see a tiny ray of sunshine and learn something of the philosophy of life. He saw the meaning of practical Christianity. But alas, he found after turning it over in his mind that to do what Uncle Scrim advocates meant being more unselfish, a little less of a bore at home, being kind to dear ones, being cheerful at all times and doing a little good turn to someone every day. What a tremendous sacrifice. Because it meant giving up something he classes it all as- rot, and rushed into print to ease the turmoil of his conscience. "Sentimental rubbish," he says, but of course we pity him really because the calibre of his wrings tells, us that his mind is not cap *ole of delving deeper than the mere words of a song, and grasping the principle of Christianity underlying those words. Maybe "Thumbs Down" was only looking for a bite (although his letter does not suggest he has so much foresight). Anyhow, if bite he wanted, bite he has got. Forward commercial radio —onward Uncle Scrim.—Yours, etc., A MAN IN THE STREET. April 20, 1937.

TO THE EDITOR OJt THB PRESS,

Sir,—With reference to "Thumbs Down's" letter in to-day's issue of "The . Press," perhaps we are some of the people who like Uncle Scrim's philosophy of life, but our idea is that if more of this theme were practised and less of the self-first idea, the world would be a brighter arid happier place to live in. From "Thumbs Down's" letter one would naturally assume that he considers he is one of the real intellectual leaders of the community, and if so, he could lead his house and himself to his own street of good cheer by just switching off the set and listening to

his own song and home-made.verse of ill-humour and pessimism, and leave the despised programme to those who really have an ear for "trite sentimentality." Can "Thumbs Down" claim that because the invitation was given to ring the studio expressing appreciation, etc., people would send telephone messages from as far south as Invercargill, if they all held the same opinion as "Thumbs Down." And surely all would not be classed as common sentimentalists, but perhaps some who listened and enjoyed Uncle Srim's programme would be "Thumbs Down's" intellectual leaders of the community. According to our ideals, the philosophic epigram (as "Thumbs Down" cares to term it) "life's a garden; you get out of it what you put into it," is quite correct. Which being so, he may have only weeds to gather; hence his sour demeanour. —Yours, etc., THUMBS UP. April 21, 1937.