DOMINION PUBLICITY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 118, 14 November 1925, Page 7

DOMINION PUBLICITY

NEW USE OF BROAD-

CASTING

PHONO-FLIGHT TO NEW

ZEALAND

A GLASGOW PROGRAMME.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, 9th October.

A unique experience was provided for about two million Scottish listen-crs-in on sth October, by a "plionoflight" to New Zealand, broadcast from the Glasgpw station of the British Broadcasting Company. This is a class of wireless entertainment of an Empire educational character, pioneered by the Glasgow station, which is likely to become popular. On tli is occasion, tho Director of Education of British Broadcasting Company was present from London to w:itch results.

The phono-flight, or as it was also termed a "radio-conducted tour of jS'ow Zealand," was compiled in the jntvin by Mr. H. T. B. Drew, Government Publicity Officer, and the important incidental effects were added by Mr. M. M. Dewar, of the Glasgow station, who had charge of the production. Mr. Dewar has undoubtedly a genius for work of this description. Two hours were devoted to the production.

After the preliminary announce' incuts, Mr. Drew read a five-minute foreword from.Sir James Allen, followed by a brief message sent by the Pi.ime Minister, the Hon. J. G. Cofttes. After this the poem, "Old New Zea-liind—iO-12-1709" (by J. Liddell Kelly), was recited by ft Scottish .-u'-tor, Mr. A. Boddie, and Maori daunts and war-cries Were suitably .imposed as a picturesque background. T';icu followpcl a scene descriptive of tho arrival of an emigrant ship, the Suffolk, in Auckland* The characters engaged weroi— Captain, Mr. A. Betldie; "Jock," an immigrant, Mr. G. Eoss; another immigrant, Mr. H. M. Dewar. Sea ef' I'ects were super-imposed by mechanical devices to depict tho steamer staling up into Auckland Harbour; excited remarks by actors present served as the comments of tlie immigrants until the vessel anchored with a rattle of chains. Then the tender was hailed and made fast alongside, and the immigration officer and his staff were welcomed aboard by the captain of the Suffolk. After this followed a aeene depicting what transpires on a transport on her arrival in New Zealand, ahd the immigration officials' method of working on such an occasion, the scene being onlivened with "give and take" oontmont between the passengers and the immigration officer, the purpose being to bring out the chief points of tha excellent provision made for new arrivals. Each section of the immigrants •were addressed in turn —general workers with families, domestic servants, public schoolboys, farm workers. A typical paragraph was as fol-

IOWSt— Immigration Officer*' "And yott braw farm-workers; there is.no earthly reason, if you work 'hard, and i&ve tip, why, in a few years you shouldn't own farms, *ud be supplying Scotlaud with butter and meat."

Jock: "Ayet That* ft' tleht, but whit aboot the folks at Home I Will they buy it, or will they still prefer Danish?" (General murmur; "Hear, hear.") ' .' Immigration Officer t "Well, , that's up to you boys. I don't doubt that if you deliver the goods, they'll give it a trial." V . ... Ultimately, the seen« faded out, * siren was heard, and the steamer pro: ceeded on her way to the wharf to the tune of the bagpipes. After this .followed the real "phono-flight"- of the Dominion.

TOtm Off THE DOMINION.

It opened on the top of Mount Eden with the breathless comments of a party of Scottish climbers just off the vessel. The guide (Mr. Drew) showed them the city and it*' point* of interest, told of the country lying away to the north; and then, a descent having been made to the railway station, the party set off on a conducted tour of the Dominion. Various realistic effects and tourist comments were introduced as the train proceeded south. The route taken was via Hamilton and the magnificent Wailcato dairy lands to Botorua, where » brief stay was made at the spa, and visits- paid to the chief places of interest, while the Maoris also were spoken of, and gome of them (impersonated by the well-known vocalists, Miss Elsie Treweek, Mr. John Collinson,- .and Mr. Fred Collier) were induced to contribute the Maori Bongs, "Mere," "Hino and Hine." "Aroako," "A Maori Legend,'* "Kaniate," and "Tongi." The journey was then continued Vm by way of Lake Taupo and around tlio National Park to the Wangauul River, down this, and thence by rail through the Taranaki lands and towns to New Plymouth and Mount Egniont. Doubling back by rail to the Main Trunk line at Marton, the East and "VVost Coast features were covered, and Wellington was. reached and viewed from tho Tinakori Hills.

Crossing to Picton —the trip made pleasant with music and the story of Pelorus Jack—the party was conducted by motor to Nelson, and on to the West Coast towns, via the Bul]er Gorge. 1 On the way the audience' was regaled with tales Of the olden days, and of the gold rushes. By train ( via Otira, they then went to Christchurch and on to the Canterbury Plains. : Here was enacted a, little playlet specially written for the occasion by Mr. Halbert Tatlock, entitled "The Maori," and played by four Scottish actors. The object of the playlet was to bring out the dignified character and kindliness and reliability of the Maori.

GUIDE'S FABEWELL WORDS,

After this the flight continued on to Dunedin, "the Calccloniu of the South," with tales regarding the city. Bongs of Scotland were sung by the passengers on tho 'train *en route. Thence.on to Invercnxgill, and up to the cold lakes and Mount Cook, where tho guide bado the party farewell. "I only hope,'' ho said, "with all native sincerity, and out of a great love for my country, that I have been able to convey to you some idea, if only a faint one, of her exceeding "beauty, Oj; her inherent attributes of future greatness, of tho high ideals of her people, of her enterprise in commerce, her confident inarch along the road ,o£ democratic progress, and of her intense loyalty. I might recall that in the war we New Zealajidera fought

in some of the -great battles side by side with Scottish regiments. On leave, our men sought Edinburgh and Glasgow almost as much as London. Wo share .your past glories, your stirring legends and history, and with you, aB fellow-Britishers, we seek earnestly to advanco the great cause ef enlightened civilisation, which is tho mission of the British race under tho British Crown."

"In honour of our guide," said "Jock," in conclusion, "and the groat Dominion of New Zealand, I'm suro we should all. like to join in the National Anthem. What is the name of it? Isn't it called 'God Defend Now Zealand'?"

Guide: "Well, friends, to tell tho truth, New Zealand lias, generally speaking, no distinct National Authem of its owhj our anthem is the same as the one you have at Home, 'God Save the King.' Let's all join in singing it." The message of the Prime Minister was: "New Zealanders send cordial greetings to their kinsfolk in Scotland. We arc proud of the splendid Hfii -of our sturdy Scottish pioneers in helping to lay the foundations of our colonisation and development. New Zealand offers ample opportunity for industrious, thrifty, and patriotic settlers, and these being national characteristics of the Scot, we will cordially welcome those who desire to make homes for themselves and families in this fair British land."

The songs rendered during the evening were specially obtained, on cable request, by the British Broadcasting Company, from Messrs. Begg and Co., of Wellington. For the evening's "flight," the Glasgow station had circulated many thousands of small programmes which contained a map of New Zealand, «o that the tour could be followed. The Sigh Commissioner states that already tho mails have brought in a number of inquiries from Scottish listeners-in regarding New Zealand. 85, Fleet street.