COMEDIES ON TV

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 27

COMEDIES ON TV

“More Sinister Than Westerns’ 9

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, Dec. 11.

Many of the bogys about television were discussed by the Rev. Stuart Jackman in an address to the Auckland Rotary Club at its annual Christmas dinner. “Most criticism of the impact of television on children comes from parents who do not have sets,” he said amid laughter. “They fall into three categories: those who say they will never have it—they cannot afford it; those who say they will not have it until their children finish secondary school—they are hoping to afford it some day; and those who say they will not have it until their children finish university—they are people who buy Golden Kiwi tickets.” Mr Jackman said he considered some of the family “comedy” programmes more sinister than the so-called violence of the Westerns. One United States programme was based on the theme that the husband had to look outside the marriage partnership for “fun.” The bogy that television destroyed conversation was vastly overdone. “My estimate of conversation in Britain and New Zealand is that the sooner it is destroyed the better,” he said. “I do not follow this wrestling on wheels called Rugby so I cannot take part in much of what passes for conversation.'*

People were better informed of overseas events after experiencing the realism of television.