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Radio Digest Episode 255
Part 1. Announcer (probably David Kohn) introduces the programme items; an interview with pianist Solomon and a visit to the Rimutaka railway tunnel construction site.
The pianist Solomon (Cutner) appeared the previous night in a concert performance with the National Orchestra of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service.A former child prodigy, Solomon is considered as "one of the living masters of the instrument", was last in New Zealand in 1946.
He talks about the countries he had performed in and said that in 1953 he had stayed in his home for five weeks. He describes the attitude of Eastern people to his music and the response of Tokyo audiences and he considers Japanese music "Hell". He expresses strong feelings about music in the general school curriculum. Solomon describes an incident at a school in Rugby, England, when playing with the school orchestra and a bomb dropped and exploded 100 yards away.
Part 2. Interview by David Kohn with the pianist Solomon continues the discussion about his jobs during the war. He played for the Allied troops, well back behind the front line. After the war he entertained troops in India, Burma and Siam. During the war he also served in the ARP (Air Raid Precaution service). In reply to a question about opera he responds that opera music is thriving in England more than ever before. He also compares broadcasting on radio and television with performing onstage. He considers them very impersonal, though he said the LP recording was a wonderful development.
The announcer introduces the next item about the Rimutaka Tunnel construction.
Part 3. Radio Digest's commentator (possibly David Kohn) visits the site of the Rimutaka Tunnel project, with interviews recorded on site.
Construction started in July 1951 and was due to be completed in August 1955, but at the time of the recording, is about 14 months ahead of schedule. The tunnel will eliminate the notorious Rimutaka railway incline.
Interview with Mr C. B. Jones of California, business manager of the tunnelling contractors. He details the general method of tunnelling used for the excavation. He also discusses the training of New Zealand labourers by American operators. There are nine Americans still on the job and approximately 450 New Zealanders. He observes that Māori workers in particular became exceptionally good operators of the Conway Mucker tunelling equipment.
Tom Hindley (?) of Timaru, the project engineer, comments on his role.
Camp manager Mr D.H. Dallas Melton (?) of Livingston, Tennessee talks about feeding the men working on the tunnel and operating the mess halls in the camps at Featherston and Mangaroa. He describes the meals he provides.
The commentator takes recording equipment down the tunnel, on a battery-driven locomotive, to the face of the excavation and describes the drilling operation. Mr J. Booth (?) the shift boss is interviewed at the tunnel face, where they are preparing to blast.
300 sticks of gelignite were then exploded in the holes drilled previously in the tunnel face. (The muffled sound of the explosion was recorded from a safe distance.)