N.Z.B.C. clearing out its drawers

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 5

N.Z.B.C. clearing out its drawers

In its dying throes the N.Z.B.C. is emptying out its drawers and putting the contents on the screen. Wednesday night was a fairly good cleanout in this way for both “The South Tonight” and “Seven Days.”

The local jet boats wooshed around again for the umpteenth occasion this year. This time the pretext was the Zaire River expedition, an outdated and almost forgotten episode — and a flop in its own right. Much excitable and repetitive footage of a boat plung-

of the Week. 9.30: Evening Encore. 10.0: Does the Team Think. 10.30: N.Z.B.C. News, Weather. 10.49: The Epilogue. 11.0: 8.8. C. News, Commentary. 11.15: Late ■ Night Variety. 12.0: N.Z.B.C. News, Weather. 3YC, CHRISTCHURCH (960 kilohertz) j 7 p.m.: All YCs. Bach: ] Magnificat in D — Elly I Ameling and Hanndke van I Bork (sopranos), Helen Wtitts contralto), Werner Krenn (tenor), Tom Krause (bass), Vienna Academy Choir, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra under Karl Muenchinger. 7.34: The Art of Wagnerian Singing. 8.32: In the Studio, Lola Johnson (piano), Chopin: Three etudes; Valse brilliante in A minor, Op. 34, No. 2; Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31. 8.56: Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 (Rhenish) (1850) — Philharmonia Orchestra under Carlo Maria Giulini. 9.30: The Living Shakespeare. 9.59: Bach: Easter Oratorio. Elly Ameling i (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Werner Krenn (tenor), Tom Krause (bass), Vienna Academy Choir, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra under Karl Muenchinger. 10.48: Arne: Overture No. 4 in F — English Chamber Orchestra under Emanuel Hurwitz. 3ZB, CHRISTCHURCH (1100 kilohertz) 9.10 a.m.: All music request programme. 3ZM, CHRISTCHURCH (1400 kilohertz) 9.0 a.m. to 10.0 p.m.: Music, news hourly, weathI er, service information, dedii cations. 3XA, RADIO AVON (1290 kilohertz)

j News on the hour. 5.30 ■ a.m.: Paul Muggleston. 9.0: Murray Inglis with dedications. 2 p.m.: Mike Richardson. 4.0: American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. 7.0: Paul Muggleston. 10.0: Talkback with Rev. Peter Davis.

ing about in the turbulences from the camera boat’s wake still failed to conceal the fact that what these craft did on the oid Congo could have been done equally as well by rowing-boat, and with far less noise. The African village sequences were embarrassingly inept and the graphics irrelevant. This is one production that squeezed in just in time. Rodney Bryant was apparently making his last appearance as front man on that programme. He took the trouble to make a few formal expressions of farewell. Very nice. The only similar screen time that springs to mind is that of immediate past Prime Ministers on election night. It is to be hoped that someone doesn’t lose his sense of proportion. “Seven Days” cleaned out its stock pot with two strictly North Island pieces and a psychic bit. What might have been a! discussion of the merits ofi compulsory unionism be- > camea revelation of fanat-j icism in Carterton. There,! the proprietor of a six-hand; clothing factory said he; would sooner lose his last penny before he saw his employees obliged to join the union, and one of the six women said she would sooner stop work than join the union under compulsion. It’s a case where expediency seems more human. Anchorage, Hamilton, was a place caring for misfits with the aid of religion — a sort of Salvation Army guerrilla group. A young Israeli said he had a psychic gift for making watches go and sighting flying saucers. Fifty-three people rang to; say that they had responded; to his invitation and that their old watches were ticking again (having been moved around). If only he had told them that if they went outside they would see a flying saucer * « The whole night was saved by the “Likely Lads.” Nothing is too good to say about this story of honest treachery and affection. It is a story of one-up-manship in which no quarter is given or expected and understanding is complete. The characterisation is masterly. # * * Frank Marker departed on Thursday for the time being, although for a longer time

than usual — according to the notices it will at least be July before “Public Eye” appears again, having to wait for TV-2. Alfred Burke’s seedy investigator will be missed; he has been consistently worth watching. We imagine all his clothing put away rolled in a ball until the next time we see him in it. An unexpected and thoroughly entertaining little piece was the Norwegian production “Sing Sala Bim.” Although a bit on the old; side, this variety show had; just the right amount of I song, dance and humour to; relax a viewer and make! him grateful for the pur-i chasing decision. The production xvas in. English, and apprently for; the American market. It had! elements of a Dean Martini show — which it took off,; in part. Being continental the .pro-! gramme had some gentle! nudity. Nothing aggressive; and very brief, but enough, ■ ■of course, to bring out. the] I New Zealand guardians with! ! gritted teeth and flared nos-! itrils. i,i SjJ i;» The Canterbury Savings Bank has gone back to its] archives for an advertisement. This is the one based on the proposition that the real pain of paying bills lies not in any shortage of money for this purpose but in the mechanics of writing cheques and posting them. ! For a long while we thought that the psychological adviser to the C.S.B. must be a failed 8.A.; eventually we concluded that this view was an unjustified slur on a reputable scientific discipline; we have now accepted that this person is failed school certificate. From a long observation of the world of ingratiating debtors and restless creditors we are satisfied that people really enjoy paying bills if they can afford such a move. In line with its persistent record of inept advertising on television, the C.S.B. has yet to admit even the possibility of an idea of this kind. —D.M.

Bus loading.— The Ministry of Transport was reexamining loading figures for school buses after receiving several requests from around the country, said the Minister of Transport (Sir Basil Arthur) yesterday.— (P.A.)