RADIO NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17986, 3 April 1930, Page 10

RADIO NOTES.

GOOD LOCAL RECEPTION. BROADCAST OF RUGBY TESTS. Wireless reception in Hamilton has been all that could be desired of late and with the approach of winter listeners can look forward with confidence to enjoyable wireless evenings. The policy of the New Zealand Broadcasting Company to provide high class programmes has been carried out to the letter and it is to be hoped that the day is not far distant when an amicable understanding can be reached between the racing and trotting authorities to broadcast running descriptions of the big meetings throughout the Dominion. The pros and eons of this important question have been thoroughly debated by the press of New Zealand and little sane justification, in the writer’s opinion, has been advanced by the racing authorities for the stand they have taken. This regrettable example has been followed by the New Zealand Rugby Union in deciding to place a ban on the broadcasting of the New Zealand v. England Rugby Tests of the coming season. This decision, however, will not pass unchallenged by' the country unions and there should be some straight talking at Wellington on the occasion of the New Zealand Rugby Union Conference. At the annual meeting of the Waikato body a notice of motion to be tabled at the conference was forwarded from the Cambridge SubUnion. It was pointed out by the Cambridge delegate that it was only through the medium of wireless that thousands of country rugby enthusiasts could participate in the Tests. Another delegate described the governing body’s attitude as savouring of professional'ism. The deliberations of the Conference in this connection will be followed w'ith more than usual interest by listeners throughout the Dominion. Talks to the man on the land arc proving of exceptional interest to country listeners and the value of these lecturettes by experts cannot he over-estimated. To those who are not engaged in farming pursuits these lecturettes provide an interesting insight into problems affecting the farming community so that the talks have a far-reaching effect and help to establish more cordial relationship between town and country. One of the most remarkable broadcasts yet attempted in New' Zealand, in that it involved the hooking up of 1274 miles of relay line between Invercargill and Auckland, was effected recently when Rear Admiral Byrd spoke to thousands of children from Dunedin. The relay lines gave a little trouble but the broadcast was nevertheless a noteworthy achievement. Radio receiving sets were installed in schools, halls and parks in various towns and country districts throughout both Islands and thousands of happy youngsters w'ere able to listenin and enjoy to the utmost Rear Admiral Byrd’s interesting discourse. Radio licenses expired on March 31 and the Ilamillon Radio Inspector’s office has experienced a busy time in coping with a last-minute rush. There are still, however, a number of listeners who have failed to meet their obligations and these should remember that they are liable to prosecution for utilising unlicensed sets. Although tho figures are not yet to. hand there is every indication of a big increase in the ranks of radio fans in Hamilton, compared with last year’s figures.