N.Z.B.C. staff men save the day

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33479, 9 March 1974, Page 5

N.Z.B.C. staff men save the day

But for the efforts of some N.Z.B.C. reporters and announcers, Thursday evening’s viewing would have been a mundane affair. Bill Cockram, who covers the Timaru beat for the corporation, handled competently the visit of the NZ Waitangi and the directors of the New Zealand Shipping Corporation. His summary was clear and concise, and he did particularly well with his interview of Sir John Ormond, against an unhelpful background of small talk and piano playing in the Mayfair Mews.

Cockram’s contribution was, deservedly, the lead in “The South Tonight”, a programme which has been tastefully presented by Derek Payne in the absence of the regular front man, Bryan Allpress. On the same programme, it was interesting to glimpse Jim Reid, a man whose voice is known to thousands through his erudite cricket commentaries. The corporation would do well to consider the possibilities of gaining the services of this man for all major cricket matches in the country. Then listeners would be saved the galling experience of hearing one commentator ask another for a word to describe Greg Chappell’s batting. David Beatson displayed his ability as an interviewer on “Nationwide” when he fronted up to the Minister of Labour (Mr Watt) on the subject of the industrial relations legislation. Probing questions by Beatson produced some interesting answers, but the Minister was naturally guarded in some of his replies because of current negotiations behind the scenes. Beatson did his best to convince the Minister that the situation would be critical if the wage freeze continued after the end of June, but Mr Watt is in the Glenn Turner class as a player of difficult deliveries.

The only criticism of Beatson is that he was, on occasion too wordy; although it can be appreciated that he was striving for answers which he did not receive in full.

Perhaps the most welcome contribution to the evening’s viewing by N.Z.B.C. staff members was that made by Bill Toft, one of a trio of austere newsreaders. He broke with tradition by pretending to peel off his jacket after dealing with an item on the network news on a virtually nude athletic pursuit — known as a “Streakin” — at an American university. And he produced a clever quip when he wound up the late news. Perhaps viewers can now look forward to some fleeting ex-

pressions of mirth from the continuity announcers. “Alias Smith and Jones” has a considerable following, according to figures published by the “Listener”, and it is not hard to understand the reason for this. Western adventures have a timeless appeal, and Pete Duel, who died by his own hand three years ago, lives On in our screens as a cowboy hero with undoubted charisma. Granted, the saloons which Heyes (Duel) and his partner, Kid Curry (Ben Murphy) frequent and the railroad stations from which they beat their hasty retreats look the same, whether they are carrying out their swashbuckling activities in Minnesota or Dakota. The fact that they are villains with a conscience brings them through time after time, even on occasions — such as this week — when they are upstaged by a pretty waitress. $ 8

The same cannot be said of “Love Thy Neighbour”, a so-called comedy which makes light of the racialist theme. This uninspired British production traverses the same ground, week after week, demolishing, as it goes, the acting reputations of Jack Smethurst, Rudolph Walker, Kate Williams and Nina Baden-Semper. There is nothing which can be said in defence of this flimsy production. It is uninspired, and it deserves to go to the wall.—J. K. B.