DELAY IN FORMING ORCHESTRA AT IYA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 392, 28 June 1928, Page 15

DELAY IN FORMING ORCHESTRA AT IYA

DROP IN LICENCES BLAMED RECONSTRUCTION OF TRIO Auckland listeners will be disappointed to learn of a little delay in the Broadcasting Company’s plans for forming an orchestra at IYA. It had been the company’s intention to establish an orchestra of the same size and calibre as that in Wellington, but unexpected difficulties have been encountered. The excessive fees demanded by the leading instrumentalists. when it is considered that the number of licences in the Auckland district is still distinctly below that of Wellington, make it impossible at the present time for the company to risk spending beyond its revenue, as would be necessary were a full orchestra formed at present. “The service given by the New Zealand stations compares more than favourably with any other in the world, considering the revenue available,” said Mr. W. J. Bellingham, director of “At present, the Wellington orchestra is superior to any similar combination in Australia. The programmes ns a whole compare more than favourably with those of 3LO, Melbourne, which has nine times the revenue of 2YA. “The establishment of the Auckland orchestra will be delaved until licences return to the level of last year. In the meantime, the present trio will be reconstructed into a small salon orchestra.”