TV PROGRAMMES DISCUSSED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30231, 9 September 1963, Page 19

TV PROGRAMMES DISCUSSED

West H.S. Board Defers Decision

The board of governors of Christchurch West High School has decided to give further consideration to a request from Bumside High School asking support for a protest to the Broadcasting Corporation on the poor quality of television programmes. It was felt that not enough was known about the quality of -all programmes.

The board agreed with the headmaster, Mr T. R. Richards, tlhait the children's programmes were excellent and that the programmes in general were clean and free from over-emphasis on sex.

While the number of cowboy and Indian shows was too high it might be that they were a substitution for school cadets, said Professor A S. Carrington. There was room for improvement, however, and he felt that there could be a better balance of shows.

“They certainly die gracefully and quickly. I must admit that the most vicious death was in a scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays,” he said.

Mr W. Brough said the evenings which would have the greatest number of children staying up late to watah—Friday and Saturday —-had the worst programmes. This seemed to contradict the N.Z.B.C.'s policy of having adult programmes at times when only adults would be viewing.

The board agreed that these two evenings could have improved programmes. ■lt felt that a better balance of programmes could be achieved, and agreed with Mrs G. M. Carter that a proper survey should be made before it could pass any further comment. Gymnasium Site The board has received permission from, the Education Department to acquire a site in Stewart street for the school’s new gymnasium. A grant of £5O for a reading laboratory has been received. An old boy, Mr A. H. McCormack, had presented the school with a set of “National Geophysic” magazines' for the year 1950 to 1962. It was worth £65 to £7O. About half the volumes have been bound, said Mr Richards. “It is an extremely valuable gift.” A city manufacturing firm had presented the school with material for girls’ athletic blouses, he said.