BRITISH BROADCASTING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 151, 23 December 1926, Page 18

BRITISH BROADCASTING

A NEW ZEALAND PROGRAMME

MAOai MUSIC FOR BBITISH LISTENERS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 6th October.

Listeners-in throughout Great Britain had an opportunity one night last week of learning a great deal about New Zealand. It was the New Zealand night of the British Bbadcasting Company, and the greater part of the programme, from 7.40 until 11 o 'clock, consisted of talks regarding the Dominion or music by New Zealand artists.

Early in the evening, Mrs. Margaret Staples-Browne (formerly known as Maggie Papakura) spoke for half an hour on the Maori race. She told how they started out far back in the night of time from a mainland called "Uru," how they migrated to the land known as jlrihia (India), and from there, about 300 8.C., to a place called Tawhitiroa, and so in time out to the islands of Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean). Sho told of how they voyaged in their great canoes to New Zealand. ■ "They had wandered half a world away from their original Homeland, and here, at the edge of the world, they abide, conservative, and disdainful as of old to await the end." The speaker went on to toll of the old. life . of the Maoris, of their religious beliefs and practices, of tho daily Hfo of the people, of their arts and handicrafts. Turning to the presetit day, the speaker continued:—

"Our boys and girls now go to school, to college, sind university, and realise that, without education, they cannot compete with their pakeha brothers. Our Maori passes the same examinations, takes the same degrees as any other New Zealander, and practices at the various professions." Sho spoke of the loyalty of the people, and of their, services "to the Empire on the battlefields of Gallipoli and Franco, and finished with the-greeting, "Tena koutou. Kia ora koutou katoa." WHAT 18 THE DOMINION TO THE I MOTHER COUNTRY. Sir James Parr was to havo spoken on tho Dominion later in the evening, but he was prevented from doing so as he was not back from the Assembly

of tho Louguo of Nations. Tho British Broadcasting Company announuor gavo a brief statement of Sir Jnmcs Parr's earcor, and Mr. 11. T. B. Drew (Publicity Officer) road the High Commissioner's speech. Tho first part doalt with the physical characteristics of the country gcnorally, and with special toforeneo to tho thermal district. "And Nature, in hor kindly way," tlio High Commissioner's statement proceeded, "has apportioned these wond'ors 'thoir bounds which thoy may not pass,' and so thoy aro no menace whatever to the country or tho pooplo. Sometimes people who read of them think thoy aro a great dangor to lifo, but New Zealanders know that that idea is entirely wrong. I was bom and grow up close to this great thormal rogion, and know every inch of it, and I have always f olt as safe there as I do in London, to-night."

'' What is New Zealand to tho Mother Country to-day?" it was asked. "Sho stands twelfth in tho scale of Britain's best customers, small though is her prosent population of 1,400,000. Her total purchases from Great Britain eclipse those of many European countries with many more times her people One quarter of your imported butter comes from New Zealand, more mutton and lamb than you get from all the other countries of the world, and as much cheese as comes from all other countries. Sho sent 600,000 cases of apples last year and much honey. One quarter of your total outside wool supplies were clipped from her sheep."

. Eeference was then made to the many directions in which the Dominion .has led tho world. Some details of the chief towns were given. "In few places outside Great Britain herself," the speaker continued, "will you find such an adherence—a jealous adherence —to British tradition in all elements of the national life. There is an intense loyalty to Britain and the British Crown. In trade, New Zealand has long since declared for the closest relationship with Britain. As you probably have seen in the newspapers lately, the New Zealand Government and municipalities aro giving preference to British manufacturers in their purchases of machinery and other goods, even though foreign tenders are lower. One of the last Acts of Parliament before it closed a few days ago was to extend the preference to British motor-cars so that they may have even a better chance than hitherto against the foreign article."

The remainder of the address dealt with the education system of the Dominion. "There is not the remotest doubt," it was said in conclusion, "that interest in tho Empire is growing. People in the Motherland are becoming more familiar with the fact that outside of Britain hersielf are vast countries, equally theirs, over which the Union jack flies, and over which our King rules; and that in those countries the nation has resources- and means of future expansion such as are possessed by no other nation in the world. Nor can I conclude without thanking very heartily the people of Great Britain for their invariable kindness and courtesy to New Zealanders. We believe you have all rather a warm spot in your hearts for New Zealand and its sons and daughters." NEW ZEALAND MUSIC. . Dramatic effect was added to the musical part of the programme by an appeal to the imagination. Mr. Drew acted as a conductor. Listeners were carried in imagination to the deck of a steamer entering Auckland Harbour. One heard the conversation of New Zealanders returning home, the sounds of the steamer as it was moored to the quay, and the sentiment of the home-coming was illustrated by the song, "Home Is Calling" (Alfred Hill), sung by the New Zealand contralto, Miss Stella Murray.

A few moments later there was the sound of a departing train, and the conversation indicated that the scene was being changed from Auckland to Botorua. Here Mr. Hubort Carter translated into song the sentiment of the Maoris. A few explanatory words by the conductor introduced each song. Mr. Alfred Hill's "Waiata Poi", was the first number, and then followed the mournful song, "Tho Last Tangi," by Marcelle D'Oreen. Mr. Carter's interpretation of this and of "The Mere" — a wild battle song—were both excellent. Those who heard him must have felt that here was a type of music entirely new to them. The numbers which followed were of a more mystic nature —"E Moe te Ka," "Akoako" (both by Erima Maewa Kaihau), and "Pakarekue" (arranged by the vocalist). Perhaps Mr. Carter's last number, "Here Tanu" (B. A. Home) was the oiw which struck the public fancy most of all, and it will not be surprising if some of these unusual melodies find a larger number of admirers as the result of this wireless concert.

Miss Esther Fisher then played Eachmaninoff's Nocturne in E Major, with her usual masterly execution. Miss Murray followed with "The Blacksmith," and Miss Fisher played Chopin's Prelude in B Major. Miss Murray concluded her section by singing "The Moon Cradle" and "Market Day," both by Herbert Hughes; and the programme was brought to a close by Miss Fisher, who played Mr. Hugo Anson's "Puck in the Belfry." Time was up, so the listeners did not hear Mrs. Staples-Browne's interpretation in Maori of "Home, Sweet Home." Tho British Broadcasting Company's programmes begin and end on the tick.