Four episodes of Saturday Spotlight recorded in 1940 - A show hosted by 'Mac' and broadcast on 2ZB.
D255
Side 1.
No.238 [09/11/40] Mrs How-Martyn, a British suffragette is visiting New Zealand to address women's organisations. She explains why the militant suffragettes took direct action such as chaining themselves to the railings in the House of Commons and outside 10 Downing Street. Initially women who went on a hunger strike were released from prison after a few days. She says the press ignored forty years of constitutional agitating for votes until women started more direct action. They pursued cabinet members everywhere they went, including onto golf courses.
Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst founded 'Women's Social and Political Union'
The Suffragette Fellowship still meet regularly for reunions.
As soon as World War I broke out Mrs Pankhurst immediately called an end to the protests, as the country had to be united to fight a war.
[interview ends abruptly]
Side 2.
No. 263 [16/11/40] Reverend Harry Squires, the Wellington City Missioner, explains his role. He says inner Wellington is a very cosmopolitan district with many Chinese and Hindus in the area called the Te Aro Flat. He believes there is good in the majority of people and describes attending the deaths of an alcoholic and a shell-shocked World War I veteran.
Mr Bivoman is introduced. Born in Russia, Mr Bivoman spent twenty five years in China, growing up and then involved in trading. He has been associated with radio in Wellington for several years. He lived in Shanghai for 12 years. Radio has always been an interest and there were 60 stations in Shanghai in 1935. Commercial stations began in Shanghai early on and he sponsored a programme there. He describes Shangahi as a very cosmopolitan place, with some parts seeming like a European city. He was educated in Manchuria and travelled right throughout China. He came to New Zealand after making friends with a Wellingtonian called Wilson.
D256
Side 1.
No. 171. [probably also 1940] An interview with Mrs Tiwi Love, the 'Queen of Rarotonga'. [Makea Nui Takau Ariki,] She was born in Rarotonga but has been in New Zealand for seventeen years. She came to go to school and then went nursing. She travels home to the Cook Islands often. Her father was 'King' before her but not in the European sense of the word, but Polynesian. Her grandmother was head of the Cook Islands for forty-two years, then her grandfather and then her father for seven years. She explains that Rarotonga is one of the islands of the group. She has twenty-six high chiefs and under-chiefs to advise her as a council of state. She will be going back to Rarotonga after Christmas. Her family are being educated in New Zealand also. Her twin daughters are at school in Masterton and the eldest will inherit her title. She says the war is affecting the shipping and fruit trade in the Cook Islands. She describes her ancestral home which is 100 years old and made of lime coral. The homes are used for entertaining visitors. Her husband, Captain Tiwi Love is with the Māori Battalion overseas.
'John Dory', a sports fisherman and author talks about the angling season and equipment via a few anecdotes.
Side 2.
No. 172 Anonymous ex-daily newspaper editor tells of his daily impressions of life in journalism. Mac asks "What would you call the most interesting job on a newspaper?" He talks about the different types of news eg. the straight news, the human interest story and comments providing an example of the latter.
Mac introduces Jim McKenna caretaker of the [Wellington?] Opera House for twenty-six years. Jim shares his experiences working back stage with travelling shows around New Zealand.