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Adam in Wonderland [1939]

Adam in Wonderland

page break

Adam in Wonderland

Before the curtain rises, a town clock chimes the hour, and the announcer speaks. (Amplifier will be necessary)

Announcer's Voice: This is the National Broadcasting Service Station 2YA Wellington broadcasting on play to Station 1YA Auckland, 2ZH Napier, 3YA Christchurch, 4YA Dunedin and 4YZ Invercargill. We regret that we have not yet established a station for the convenience of our Stewart Island listeners. We now have pleasure in introducing the Hon. Adam Bluffed, the leader of the Opposition.

(Curtain Rises)

Adam delivers final election speech --this speech to consist of extracts from the radio address given by Hon. Adam Hamilton of Oct. 14th.

Adam

During the last few weeks my supporters and myself have been appealing for the votes of the people of New Zealand. We have based our appeals on principles - principles in which we firmly believe and which have stood the test of time in the short but honoured history of our country. The philosophy of our opponents is utterly foreign to our British character. Socialism which is the goal of the Labour party in New Zealand, would have us return to the life of cave-dwellers. In place of individuality and personal freedom, in place of the rights of man to the fruits of his own labour, the Socialists seek to restore the life of the herd. The slurs on the respectable origin of the men who made this country, the frantic endeavours on the part of Labour, through its use of radio, to force its own views down the throats of the people, none of these can have any effect.

I appeal to every patriotic New Zealander to support the National cause, the cause of British ideals and British freedom and I promise you, one and all, on behalf of my party that every pledge in the party's policy will be honoured in letter and spirit.

(Adam concludes his speech and walks to an armchair at the side of the stage. He smiles and rubs his hands. He begins to yawn and the lights fade as he sleeps. When the stage is very dark a voice is heard.)

Voice

This is the story of Adam's Adventures in Wonderland.

Adam was beginning to get very tired of sitting by himself and having nothing to do. Once or twice he had peeped into Hansard, but it had no pictures and only conversations about nothing. And what is the use of a book, thought Adam with no pictures and nothing but conversations. So he was considering in his mind, as well he could, whether the pleasure of making a speech was worth the trouble of getting up and making one - when suddenly -

(Fanfare of trumpets. During the fanfare, the back cloth rises and lights go on.)