Support For Policy On Maori Names

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 1

Support For Policy On Maori Names

The Southern Regional Advisory Committee to the N.Z.B.C. was unanimous in its support of the corporation’s present policy on the pronounciation of Maori place names, and in this disagreed with its North Island counterpart, said the acting-chairman of the southern committee (Mr J. C. Barnes, of Dunedin) yesterday.

“We feel it would be utterly ridiculous to expect the N.Z.B.C. to influence the people of the district where there has been common usage of the Maori name in existance for many years. For example, we think the use of the proper Maori pronunciation of Oamaru and Timaru to have it accepted and brought into common use by those who live there is ridiculous,” Mr Barnes said, after the committee had met in Christchurch. The committee supported the corporation’s policy of “jealously preserving” those place names which were correctly pronounced in common usage.

The committee decided that “The New Week,” a religious television programme, should be brought on eartier on Sunday evenings, Mr Barnes said. The committee felt that the programme was very worth while and had a place in Sunday programmes. The committee members (20 in all) bad made a point of studying the religious programmes. "The New Week” was the last programme. It should be put

on before the news, or earlier. Twenty-four telecasts of full religious services a year, six from each station, were sufficient, the committee decided. The committee, however; felt that the shorter religious programmes could be made brighter and that more emphasis should be made in them towards interesting youth. The committee felt that these programmes were not reaching enough younger persons.