Startling Subject In “Gallery”

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32350, 16 July 1970, Page 3

Startling Subject In “Gallery”

A mild complaint made yesterday that it seemed a rather dull week’s television became a little unfair after watching Tuesday night’s programme, which in at least three places was very good indeed. It is little wonder that Ron Walton’s “In the Nature of Things” series is being recognised by its screening on all stations. It is firstclass in its presentation and photography; a fascinating lecture, made most palatable by the versatile Mr Walton. “Gallery” must surely have had a more telling impact with its treatment of an important subject than for some time. Brian Edwards interviewed members of some-

Auckland gangs of Maori youths, and it was a startling and disturbing look into a most unhappy state of affairs. The attitude of the youngsters to the police was alarming. However misled they may be in their ideas, their state of mind was brought out clearly. If there was one fault with the handling of the subject, it was in the time spent on rather repetitive statements from the youths, and the comparatively brief look at the police point of view. There was an interview with an inspector, but this statement of the police position was short of satisfactory, if a balanced account was being sought Even so, it was a revealing glimpse of an explosive situation in Auckland.

Finally, there was another very good “Wojeck” programme in the familiar semidocumentary style. It was an interesting story, very well told, with the most impressive characterisation that of the fund-raising expert prepared to go to any lengths to push his particular barrow. He might have stepped straight from the pages of a Harold Robbins novel. A word or two with almost any television viewer, a glance at the correspondence on this page, are reminders that there is no more impossible mission than trying to please everyone. “Wojeck”

must surely please more people than all but a handful of programmes.—PANDOßA.