RADIO PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 10

RADIO PROGRESS

AUSTRALIAN POSITION

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENTS

GREAT STRIDES MADE

After an abscnce of twenty years ( from the Dominion Mr. H. G. Homer, manager for New South Wales for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, is spending a brief holiday in New Zealand. . In conversation with an Evening Post" representative Mr. Horner stated that broadcasting had made tremendous strides in Australia during the past few years. From a technical viewpoint little improvement could now he looked for. The land line system in the Commonwealth was practically perfect, enabling programmes to be relayed to any part of Australia without loss of efficiency in the transmission. At present the studio facilities in Australia were not all tnai might be desired, but a commencement would be made almost immediately with the erection of modem broadcasting houses. Experts fi om the Commission had been sent abroad to study the latest developments in America, England, and the Continent, and as a result of their investigations | plans had been prepared for buildings i which would compare favourably with overseas broadcasting headquaiters.

THE ART OF "PRESENTATION." Referring to porgramme developments in Australia Mr. Horner stated that the day had passed when _ a radio programme consisted of a string of individual items. Today the policy was for programmes to be specially designed to present to the best advantage the artists appearing m it. Special continuity writers, and even composers, were employed by the Commission to- ensure that artists were "presented" to the best advantage. In a nutshell," said Mr. Horner, "our programme policy may be summed up as 'presentation,' and the necessity for every programme item to stand on its own feet as entertainment." In the early days of broadcasting in Australia many individual performers were engaged casually. Today the policy was to find regular employment for as many performers as possible. In Australia between four hundred andj five hundred musicians were regularly employed by the Commission. This had enabled several fine musical combinations to be built up. As a result of this any type of programme could be presented in a manner comparable with the best performances of similar programmes overseas.

RAISING THE MUSICAL STANDARD. Apart from the programme value thus obtained the fact that musicians were found permanent employment was having a material effect in raising the standard of music in Australia. It was no exaggeration to say that Australia was rapidly reaching a stage where the general standard of musical culture was as high as anywhere in the world. This state of affa!*s had been largely contributed to by the visits of world-famed artists engaged by the Commission. Although many people professed to have no interest in the higher forms of music they were induced to listen owing to the fame of the performer and this it was hoped I would eventually lead to an appreciation of the music itself. The present year should be an outstanding one for music lovers in the Commonwealth as the Commission had arranged for visits by many world-famed artists including Lotte Lehmann, the famous soprano; Vladimir Horowitz, one of the world's greatest living pianists; Schneevoight, the famous Finnish conductor, and the Budapest String Quartet. Some comment had been made regarding the policy of the Commission in giving public concerts by its imported artists, but it should be understood that the cost of bringing world celebrities to the Antipodes was so great that only by giving public concerts was it possible to arrange for such visits. Australian performers, of course, were not neglected and tours throughout the Commonwealth were arranged tor those who were up to the required standard.

Discussing the types of programmes most favoured in Australia. Mr. Horner said that the listening public showed a surprising interest in opera, both grand opera and the lighter types, and in major productions generally. Radio plays were still highly popular, including serial plays, several of which were broadcast regularly. The Commission was fortunate in having some outstanding radio playwrights in its service. Several plays written for productioh in Australia had been accepted for production, overseas, and at least one had proved a "best seller" in book form. PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN. Special attention was paid to broadcasts for children, said Mr. Horner. A highly popular feature was the broadcasting during the children's hour of specially-written plays. These were presented by first-class actors and actresses, and in the course of _ them much useful information was imparted. For example, in a play one of the characters might meet with an accident, and one of the dthers would apply first-aid treatment, explaining the correct procedure to adopt in case _of accidents. It was believed that instruction given in the guise of entertainment was retained better by children than that given by means of talks. Another valuable educational activity being carried out by the Commission was the provision of special] orchestral concerts which were attended by children from various schools. Prior to the actual concert the children also attended a rehearsal where the conductor explained the various instruments and told them ■ what the composer intended to portray • in his music. When the children heard the actual concert performance they showed an appreciation which proved the value of the instruction given them. EDUCATIONAL. SESSIONS.

The educational sessions in Australia were arranged by the Commission, and did not merely consist of the provision of time for educationists to broadcast. The sessions included dramatisations of historical events, biographies, etc., and similar treatment was extended to geography and other subjects. The performers were all paid by the Commission and were specially selected for this important work. The subject matter for the broadcasts was prepared by experts, who were not necessarily school teachers. Asked as to the prospects for New Zealand artists in Australia, Mr. Hor- ( ner said if they could "deliver the goods" they should have no difficulty in obtaining engagements. Many New Zealanders were doing well in broadcasting in Australia, which naturally afforded greater scope for their talent than New Zealand. Mr. Horner will return to Australia next week, after spending a few days in Auckland.