Question time on “Gallery”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32707, 9 September 1971, Page 4

Question time on “Gallery”

It was Ministerial Aunt Sally night' on “Gallery” on Tuesday, when two members of the Cabinet, the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) and the Minister of Broadcasting (Mr Walker) faced some hot deliveries from the team’s staff. Of these two interviews, the most absorbing was David Exel’s questioning of Mr Walker on television’s current puzzle: which comes first, a second channel or colour TV? It was an obvious move for Exel to base his line of questioning on the Broadcasting Authority’s chief recommendation of colour television and the Government’s 1969 election promise that it would regard a decision on whether to establish a second channel as a matter of urgency.

Using these two alternatives in much the same way as a boxer would employ a left hook and a right cross, Exel probed for a chink in the Minister’s guard. Perhaps understandably, his questioning was carried out with extraordinary zeal. It would have been optimistic of him to expect ? sensational disclosure on the programme. But he certainly tried, with such provocative questions as “It is two years since the election; how can you say it was a matter of urgency?” and “was the authority a waste of time?” I Mr Walker, however, did not lose his composure in the [face of this bombardment, and contributed to an inforImative discussion which highlighted the estimated costs of establishing a second channel and of colour conversion.

Some of his answers were repetitive, because of the unwavering line of questioning. Chief among these answers Was that the recommendations of the authority were being carefully studied. It was really all he could say at this juncture. Exel, however, would have earned a pat on the back from the producer for his persistence. Geoff Walker also handled his interview with Mr MuldoOn over the Brian Brooks affair with a great measure of diligence. The Minister of Finance, a familiar figure on television, made his points carefdlly, but Walker stuck to the trail like a bloodhound, and the result was a lucid explanation of the Minister’s earlier statement in the House. The performances of Walker and Exel in these across-the-table interviews with figures in the news are adding lustre to the reputation of “Gallery.”

Gerald Flood, who played the part of the outdoor psychiatrist in "A Bad Case of Shakespeare” last Sunday, was back on CHTV3 on Tuesday as a man who had a way with cards in “Callan.” Although the outcome was spelt out plainly in the early scenes, the drama and excitement were maintained until the end. This was achieved through the forcefulness of Edward Woodward in the title role and the smooth competence of Flood. Donald Hewlett, as Lord Lindale, and Ann Bell, as Mrs Fielding, contributed to the air of tension which surrounded the poker school. The old chrysanthemum trick has been used on stage and screen many times, but it retains its appeal, as “Doctor in the House” proved in its latest episode, “Getting the Bird." ,i This week’s offering was . also notable for some amusing manoeuvres about ■ the couch by Barry Evans . and Helen Fraser and the , usual untimely interruptions ■ by the rest of the gang. “Those Were the Days” i maintained its lively pace of : earlier programmes, although . much of the credit for this I belings to the vivacious Lee • Grant, a real professional, s and Sheila Bradley and Bill : French, who produced one fof the highlights of the i series with their duet, “There s Once Was A Man,” from t “The Pyjama Game.” Not everything went a i swing at the Northern 5 Tavern—“Pokarekare,” for t instance, was handled in an insipid manner—but the zest f and vocal capabilities of the > stripe-shirted trio maintained s the programme’s reputation s for tunefulness down - through the ranks.—PANDORA.