VARIETY PARADE

Grey River Argus, 5 November 1949, Page 7

VARIETY PARADE

RADIO NOTES Better Choice of Programmes in 1950

The New Zealand Broadcasting Service is to make some radical changes in the selection of programmes. Next year it is intended to widen the listeners’ choice of programme considerably, and, a report says, "it will then be possible to consider confining some stations to specific types of programmes, such as those appealing to followers of variety, those presenting more substantial material, and those offering between the two”.

The report adds: “As soon as the power increases are completed’the technical staff of the service will conduct a survey of reception conditions throughout New Zealand, and collect data for programme officers so that satisfactory variation of programmes from different stations can be achieved”.

Wanganui’s new radio stations, 2XA, was opened recently. Like the Greymouth station it possesses a stage and auditorium, so that an audience can take part in special programmes. The Wanganui station, which has a library of mor e than 6000 records, is a part-time commercial station, and is equipped with a high-powered transmitter. Miss Nancy Harrie, native of Greymouth, has risen far in broadcasting circles since leaving her home town in 1937. At present this talented musician is leader of the Nancy Harrie Quartet, which is frequently heard over YA stations. Critics and the public alike have commented both on her skilful playing and the standard of the quartet itself, it being compared favourably with overseas quartets. Miss Harrie received her musical education at the Convent of Mercy, Greymouth, and in 1935 she gained the A.T.C.L. in pianoforte, playing with a credit marking of 90 per cent. She won the Christchurch Competitions in 1937, thus winning the Begg Scholarship, and for years she was programme organiser and accompaniste to 3ZR, as the Greymouth station was then known. She was the highestmarked candidate in the Dominion in the Trinity College Exhibition in advanced senior pianoforte playing examination conducted in the Dominion in 1934, being awarded- 93 per cent, in marks.