Television and Radio Tom and the drama of Reefton

Press, 15 June 1978, Page 15

Television and Radio Tom and the drama of Reefton

REEFTON WEEK-ENDS Sir, — I am in agreement with '“-’lms, your television '’’***. > garding the serin., ,x Faces.” His concern for Kenneth More’s mistress, his advice to her, and finally his invitation are good thinking. His promise not to “embroil her in a series that has all the drama of a wet week-end in Reefton,” I question. 1 would like him to come over and spend part of a wet week-end with Tom, my Aussie workmate. He could start early Saturday morning taking ail the doubles, trebles and quinellas going, the right information being supplied by the local publican’s horse’s mouth. Then off to the bush with Tom to do the conservationists in, mumbling all the time that he is a better Labourite than the new gang. Every week-end Tom chops down the biggest rimu, totara, kawaka, kahikatea and matai that he can find, and curses in his best Aussie bullockdriver’s language that there are no big kauris to get stuck into. Saturday afternoon is spent digging under the pubs for the old Chinese bottles and plates till he picks up a cool $450. Then clubs and pubs here he comes, ready to bet anybody that there is more drama here than in Canterbury or the “Six Faces.” — Yours, etc, J. H. M. (REEFTON).

ADVISORY BODY Sir,—The article by Ken Coates on; TVl’s advisory committee, “The Press,” June 7) makes one question the committee’s value to viewers. Recommendations and reports made by this committee to TVl’s Director-General should be issued for public scrutiny, which we are given to understand is not the case: only criticism of TV staff should be made an exception. Why are viewers not invited to forward their 'views on the programmes? My own are as follows: Too much sex and intimate bedroom scenes: excessive violence and the use of firearms. I desire mbre wholesome entertainment such as educational and travel films, not repetitions of "blood and thunder” films. With a SSM profit last year the viewers have every right to expect an improvement in the quality of the programmes. Why must the work of this committee be so shrouded in secrecy, and why the objection to the presence of reporters at their meetings? — Yours, etc. R. V. SHAW. RADIO PROGRAMMES Sir,—lt is time again constructively to criticise radio in Christchurch. The early morning programme on 3ZB is something one imagines a discotheque to sound like with the constant barrage of Top Forty material. Can’t we have at

least one “Golden Oldie”? It is also regrettable to notice on 3ZB that the network news has once again been done away with in the breakfast show. Why must they persist with this inefficient, wasteful and repetitive format? How long do we have to tolerate the “Tonight Show” before we can hear again decent local night-time radio? A network programme on a “community-minded” station is so far out of touch with the community, especially on pertinent matters as weather and road conditions. I believe that there is a lot in a name so when are they going to change Nova back into 3ZM or at least make Nova play second fiddle. As the state broadcasting corporation has made a profit, can’t we at least hear some reasonable improvement in quality broadcasting that Christchurch once knew before private competition interferred. — C. JAMES.

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