Radio moves closer to real alternative

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33941, 6 September 1975, Page 7

Radio moves closer to real alternative

(By

M.L.

“Broadcasting must not be a plaything of the politicians; it is too important to New Zealand for that.”

So said Mr Gilbert Stringer, in a speech broadcast last Saturday from the jubilee dinner for broadcasting’s 50 years. And the day of the anniversary, was marked by an innovation as non-political as one could wish for — morning YC at the weekends. We are getting nearer the notion of an alternative programme on radio. John Casserly, a most eloquent spokesman for the new ways in music-dance-theatre, popped up for a talk during the first Saturday morning YC broadcast. In a discussion he paid fine tribute to the “sophistication” of New Zealand audiences. Casserly has a show coming to Christchurch this month, in company with Jack Boddy and Barry Margan — I hope a lot of people hear and see it. These three people are something rather special in the New Zealand arts: they are actually doing something new — in a way peculiar to New Zealand. A resonant voice on the Concert Programme last week made the interesting announcement: “Concert hour: a programme in stereo, featuring well-known German orchestras.” The music, Mozart and Prokofiev, came by courtesy of German radio. It was very good but, of course, not in stereo. Now that there is a sympathetic ear in the corridors of power — Mr Jim Robertson, the new planning officer for Radio New Zealand — it would be nice to have some pressure on the authorities for SM (stereo) broadcasts. It would be a real compensation for the increased price of records. I don’t know quite from where this push would

come. The manufacturers are still on their colour television sets and the politicians have said nothing about it — except, that is, Mr Robert Clarkson, a Christchurch Values Party candidate, who has long been a crusader for FM. Peter Harcourt reviewed three films on Saturday’s “Viewpoint” — Letkie, Rollerball, and The Land that Time Forgot. I would like to see all three films after hearing the review. In passing, I would like to pay tribute to the part that Peter Harcourt and his wife, Kate Harcourt, have played in broadcasting. Kate Harcourt’s morning children’s session was bashed off the air about four years ago by Women’s Lib in one of its first acts of violence. Her “listen with Mother” was accused of being too grandmotherly, I still think it was miles better than any we have had since. * * gs Exorcism: “A whipping post over the centuries for things that did not happen to agree with the Christian Church.” Owen Caddick, of Christchurch, who' has gone unsung for too many years as a purveyor of good things on radio, took a good round look at exorcism in “Insight” this week. He had local Church spokesmen tell us how they and theirs saw the subject. I will try to summarise these views, probably not doing justice to them:Roman Catholic: Still a problem, but angels and devils now come into a lesser range of Christian teachings. Baptist: We no longer personalise evils into devils. Brethren: It is, in the •Bible, it is still possible. Methodist: Now a tech-

nological age: we might look for naturalistic explanation. However, some Methodists still use a strict Biblical interpretation. Presbyterian: Most now see devils as culturally condictioned. Anglican: Sharply divided, and still the real practitioners of exorcism. In all, the Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Brethren emerged as the only ones with real personal devils. We had Archdeacon Witty, of Christchurch, tell us of his system of referral, first to a general practitioner, then a psychiatrist, and then to the rites of the Church. Bishop Ashby followed something the same tack. If the psychiatrist “decided there was a demoniac possession” then it would be back to the priest, who must apply to the Bishop for the exorcism process to go ahead. The film, “The Exorcist,” demonstrated the business of possession very well, he said. Then, to round off the show, Dr Edwin Hall, superintendent of Sunnyside Hospital, bluntly put down all the clerics. “Superstition, as in the churches, has held back psychiatry for years,” he said. He said he had not met a doctor who believed in exorcism. But suggestion, he said, worked with a lot of people; exorcism then became just another fringe therapy — “a very impressive performance.” Dr Hall had a clarity which the reverend gentlemen seemed to lack. Owen Caddick pressed the question of the actual procedure of exorcism; they all seemed to evade the question, or indulge in a sort of ecclesiastic buck-passing. $ sis * Last week’s exercise in fatuity seemed the special National Programme broadcast of the State dinner for the visiting Lord Mayor of London, (Sir Murray Fox). Friday afternoon’s programme was interrupted for an hour and all New Zealand was treated to some splendid mumble jumble — platitudes in gratitude.