DOMINION TALKIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4037, 4 January 1930, Page 4

DOMINION TALKIES.

AU OK LA NT) X EW;S -REE I Talking: “shorts” are being made in New Zealand by Radio Films, Ltd., with the Coubray-tone system of recording-, and will be presented shortly in Auckland. The first of these films, which was screened privately this week, contains scenes 'from different parts of Auckland, and a sequence of the ’funeral of the late Bishop Cleary. Shots of Queen Street; at 5 o’clock, of work on the wharves and of the production of a feature picture, “Romance of Maoriland,” taken at Mnngerc, are also included. A price of £70,000 fojr the New Zealand rights, or £7OOO cash and 1/0 per foot of film royalty, was asked for imported equipment. That which is being used has been maluifaefuredoby Auckland engineers, and-it is stated that with a little improvement it will be difficult to notice a great deal of difference between its product and that which can lie made with foreign apparatus.

Sounds which are recorded in the first film are fairly clear, although as Mr. ICoubfay states, -the microphone which was used to record them has had to he discarded. One on two foreign sounds, such as the whistling of the wind, have been caught, but some idea of the degree of perfection of the equipment can be gathered from some of the better sequences.

A (representative of the Government Publicity Department has seen the film, and the authorities are considering using it.