BRITISH BROADCASTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19946, 13 November 1926, Page 19

BRITISH BROADCASTING.

Al NEW ZEALAND PROGRAMME. THE MAORIS. (From Ode Own Coeeespo- dent.) LONDON, October 6'. 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 Broadcasting 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 Papapakura) spoke for a 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 Irihia’ (India), and from there, about 300 n.c., to a place called Tawhitiroa. and so in time cut to the islands of Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean). She told of how they voyaged in their -reat canoes to New Zealand. “They had wandered half a world away from their original Homelano, 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 tell of the old life of the Maoris, of their religious beliefs and practices, of the daily life of the people, of their arts and handicrafts. Turning to the present day, the speaker continued: "Our boys and girls now go to school, to college, and 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 practises at the various professions.” She spoke of the ' loyalty of the people and of their service to the Empire on the battlefields of Gallipoli and France, and finished with the greeting: “Tena koutou. Kia ora koutou katoa.” WHAT IS THE DOMINION TO THE MOTHER COUNTRY?

Sir James Parr was to have spoken on the Dominion later in the evening, but he was prevented from doing so. as he was not back .from the Assembly of the .League of Nations. The British Broadcasting Company announcer gave a brief statement of Sir James Parr’s career, and Mr H. T. B. Drew (publicity officer) read the High Commissioner’s speech. The first part dealt with the physical characteristics of the country generally and with special reference to the thermal district. “And Nature, in her kindly way,” the High Commissioner’s statement proceeded, “has apportioned these wonders ‘their bounds which they may not pass,’ and so they are no menace whatever to the country or the people. Sometimes people who read of them think they are a great danger to life, but New Zealanders know that that idea is entirely wrong. I was born and grew up close to this great thermal region and know every inch of it, and I have always felt as safe there as I do in London to-night.” “What is New Zealand to the Mother Country to-day?” it was asked. “She stands twelfth in the scale of Britain’s best customers, small though is her present population of 1,400,000. Her total purchases from Great Britain eclipse those of many European countries with many 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. She sent 600,000 cases of apples last year and much honey. One quarter of your total outside wool supplies was clipped from her sheep.” Reference was then made to the many directions in which the Dominion has led the 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 are 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 i as said in conclusion, “that interest in the Empire is growing. People in the Motherland are becoming more familiar with the fact that outside of Britian herself 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 Now 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 “Homo is Calling” (Alfred Hill), sung by the New Zealand contralto. Miss Stella Murray. A few momenta later there was the sound of a departing train, and the conversation indicated that the scene was being changed from Auckland to Rotorua. Here Mr Hubert Carter translated into gong the sentiment of the Maoris. A fewexplanatory words by the conductor introduced each song. Mr Alfred Hill’s “Waiata Poi” was the first number, and then followed the mournful song, “The Last Tangj,” by Marcelle D'Oreen. Mr Carter’s interpretation o T 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 tc Ra,” “Akoako” (both by Erima Maewa Kaihau), and “Pakarekue” (arranged by the .vocalist). Perhaps Mr Carter’s last number “Here Tanu” (R. A. Horne) was the one 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 Rachmaninoff’s Nocturne in E Major, with her usual masterly execution. Miss Murray followed with “The Blacksmith,” and again Miss Pisher plaved Chopin's Prelude in B Major. Miss Murray concluded her section by s'uginn- “The Moot, Cradle” and “Market Day,” both by Herbert Hughes; and the p-n-rramme was brought to a close bv Miss Fisher, who played Mr Hugo Anson’s “Puck in the Belfrv.” Time was up, so the listeners did not hear Mo Staplcs-Browne’s interpretation m Maori of “Home Sweet Home.” The British Broadcasting* Company s programmes begin and end on the twk