“Gallery” offering was rather meagre

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 4

“Gallery” offering was rather meagre

As the country’s leading current affairs programme, and often a newsmaker as well, “Gallery” on Thursday evening was rather empty. I’ve nothing against interviews with bunny girls and with couples living it up at “the world’s most seductive honeymoon resort”—or even some words of enthusiasm from a dedicated safety officer —but I just wonder whether “Gallery” was a place for these items.

I can almost hear the bunny fans asking, why not? Let’s settle for the inclusion of that interview, but question the other two. And anyway, perhaps the Kirk-Marshall confrontation earlier in the week left producer Des Monaghan with the feeling that something lighter was needed. It was true, too, than on Thursday night, the programme did lead off with a round-up of what happened at the New York meeting of the United Nations Special Committee on Apartheid. For New Zealand viewers there was little new in the statements from Messrs Richards and Newnham, and from Dr Hohepa. It was perhaps interesting, however, to have the point made that New Zealand’s policy and continued sporting contact with South Africa is coming under close world scrutiny. I was also interested in the point made by Dr Hohepa that the advice of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign

Affairs had been rejected in this matter. While the special reportwas somewhat reptitious, it was also intriguing to note that one of the questions asked at the press conference was: what was the “mental block” as far as New Zealand was concerned? While it was made clear that the committee opposes this country’s continued sports contact with South Africa, and that it takes Mr Marshall’s recent statement as official approval, what was not so Clear was what hapr pens next. It was a pity, I thought, that “Gallery” could not have included someone on the other side of the fence—either from the Government or from the world of sport. Admittedly Mr Sullivan of the Rugby Union had been asked to appear, but apparently he considered it “inappropriate.” "Gallery’s” willingness to probe and publicly discuss topical issues of national importance is a heartening aspect of the N.Z.B.C.’s treatment of current affairs. I am hoping it will face its responsibilities in taking a close look at the implications for the public of the recent merging of Wellington newspaper companies. « » # "He Who Dares” has been a series that has hardly lived up to the excellence promised by the first mountain ascent programme. However, the last in the current series, "In the Midst of an Empty Sea” on Wednesday evening did capture much of the hopelessness and nightmare experiences of the French couple cast ashore on a desolate island off Australia’s Northern Territory. There were some deft touches in this programme—such as the couple's plunge into the water after the exhausting crawl through the mangroves, and the seeking solace in the music of :h on a record player with batteries running out. B * ♦ The first of the four-part serial “The Spanish Farm,” which screened on Thursday evening is the story of Madeleine and the farm situated in French Flanders close to the front in the First World War—and of course of some of the British troops billeted there. Caroline Mortimer to my mind just doesn’t have what it takes to make a convincing French girl—even though it is explained that she speaks excellent English. I found this programme rather tedious—although perhaps it was an emphasis to the comment made somewhere in it that war is man’s stupidity. It does perhaps capture something of the nostalgia associated with the period and I liked Jack Woolgar as the peasant father. . * # St It is always interesting, I

find, to meet some-one who enjoys a TV programme which you can’t stand. I found a person the other day who stays up on Wednesday nights to watch “The Odd Couple." Now, he’s a reasonably intelligent sort of fellow, so I thought I’d better take a closer look at the clowning couple who have left their wives—or is it that they were thrown out? Here and there, it did strike a chord, although I still maintain they grossly over-play the situations. Being rather inclined to the order of Unger myself—though without the application—l certainly appreciate the shifting of the piano and washing of the salad bit. # # * Incidently, the “Contrabandits” really beat all records for quick recovery. Have you ever seen anyone spring up so squickly from a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation session? — Pandora’s Guest.