GOOD WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 18

GOOD WORK

Archdeacon Holbrook as Announcer BISHOP CLEARY OBSEQUIES The arrangements made by the Broadcasting Company to let listeners hear the Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in connection with the death of Bishop Cleary were excellent, and a credit to all concerned. The description of the service was carried out by the Very Reverend Archdeacon Holbrook and a most dignified and graphic effort it was. Listeners, no matter what faith they subscribed to, were thrilled by the announcer’s perfect knowledge of the form of service, and his rich Irish voice. In parts of the service, when obviously it would have been out of place for the announcer to have spoken in ordinary tones without disturbing the solemnity of the service, Archdeacon Holbrook’s deep, clear whispers went on with the description, and so clear was his enunciation that every word he said was heard with clarity. In the background could be heard singing or chanting, yet the announcer’s voice did not seem to unduly obtrude itself. The whole description was carried with the reverence the occasion demanded and it is not surprising to hear that . the cathedral authorities have received many congratulations on Archdeacon Holbrook’s work.

HOW U.S.A. BROADCASTS SERVICE TO PUBLIC Merlin H. Aylesworth, president of the National Broadcasting Company m America, is on a visit to Europe Slender, of nervous type, quick in thought and action, always physically and mentally on hair-trigger, almost instant in his decision, he is alert for new and novel ideas that may advance the art of broadcasting, Aylesworth believes that service to the public is the one foundation on which the company should base its hopes for permanent support and ultimate prosperity. As a result he measures the things N.B.C. should do or not by the test of whether they will benefit the public. Most folks probably in Aylesworth’s position would think they had to know a lot about the technical and engineering side of radio. But the N.B C president troubles himself with that not at all. He will tell you he doesn't know the difference between a kilo-

cycle and motor-cycle, or a short-wave and a permanent wave. He has a technical staff to deal with those things. But he does try to envision the vast possibilities of radio as an educational and cultural force, as a purveyor of entertainment, information and instruction. His enthusiasm and sense of the dramatic and his refusal to accept as final “it can’t be done” often enables him to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Briefly, Aylesworth is the man of vision. He seeks idealistic results with little consideration of their cost in “filthy lucre.” With some sixty-three broadcasting stations to feed, the N.B.C. mainly relies for its upkeep on the income accruing from microphone publicity given to a large group of industrial and commercial concerns who sponsor the programmes. No direct advertising is permitted as it is considered that bald “puffs” would raise the antagonism of listeners and would defeat its own ends. Of the sixty-three transmitters dotted all over the North American Continent, from New York on the east coast, to San Francisco in the west, and from Chicago to Miami in Florida, only three broadcasting stations are actually owned by the company. Daily transmissions are almost continuous from 7 a.m. until midnight and simultaneously, where necessary, three different entertainments can be relayed to three separate groups of stations included in this system. A rule has been made that no educational or instructional talks shall last more than 15 minutes and statistics show that of the total transmissions only 33 per cent, of the time is devoted to speech. In his opinion, Mr. Aylesworth states that the tastes of listeners had undergone considerable change in the space of two years.

The use of aperiodic aerial coupling is often beneficial in increasing selectivity, and cutting out unwanted noises. Long grid-bias leads are liable to cause trouble if carried close to H.F. chokes, L.F. transformers, etc.