RADIO HOURS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 14 January 1942, Page 6

RADIO HOURS

WHEN DO YOfU LISTEN? NOT AN INQUISITIVE QUIZ Electricity department meter readers last week asked questions about radio listening, like: How long is your set on, when is it on, do you listen to such and such? says the Wellington Post. Nine times out of ten the reaction was hostile—amusedly to belligerent13'. Really the meter readers were not in the least interested in how the individual listened, or if the listening was to this station or to any station; what was wanted was a general idea of what use the public make of radio sets round the broadcasting hours. The idea started in Auckland, where it was suggested that a worthwhile saving of electricity would be brought about by lessening the hours of broadcasting. In various discussions which followed the suggestion was widened to include a reduction of the number of stations on the air. as well as reduced hours. Auckland made a survey of listeners by instructing meter readers; to ask from door to door certain pattern questions, and from that beginning other supply authorities were asked to do the same. So it was that householders whose meters werp read last week answered the radio "quiz." The replies were ticked off and are being analysed ncsw; the results will be sent on to the Electricity Controller. It is not proposed to continue the house-to-house inquiry in Wellington.

What the analysis will show remains to be seen. It may or may not be possible to bring about a worth-while saving—worth-while in the l'acie of objections that would certainly be raised—by reducing the hours and scope of broadcasting, but whether a saving can be so made or not, the necessity to avoid unnecessary use of electric power continues. The neavy radiator load of the winter months is off but Avastcful use of lighting goes merrily on, and steam plants still run, in (calendar) summer months, to maintain suijplj' in balance with demand for power in the North Island.

One of the most useful waste-sav-ing campaigns that people can undertake is nil economy hunt, kept up consistently for lights, radiators —and radio .sets —switched on when they are not needed. Next winter economy will not be merely desirable in the common interest; it avill be essential, if straight-out rationing is to be avoided.