RACING AND THE REST.

New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 239, 21 January 1944, Page 3

RACING AND THE REST.

Sir-I am writing to support the complaint of your correspondent "Talmagundi" in your issue of 7th January, not only in connection with the apparentlv foolish and inconsiderate switching of station 3YA during the first race at Riccarton on November 24th, but also in connection with the continual switching of racing and other sporting broadcasts for the war news. To me the reply from the Director is unconvincing. What about the frequent switching and postponement of other regular features in favour of the many political addresses delivered under the guise of important national messages. My radio licence is paid as a necessity, not as a luxury. Although my tastes are fairly cosmopolitan, the principal value of the licence to me comes from the war news, classical and semi-classical instrumental music, talks, addresses, and other features of educational value, and sport broadcasts. I am one of those who are pleased that the radio services in New Zealand are being brought under one control. But is this unified control put to the best advantage? Surely, with the coverage from our .main national and commercial and auxiliary stations. taken along with the fact that the war news can be heard from the main stations six to eight times each day depending on reception conditions, the interests of more listeners would be served by allowing race and other sports broadcasts to continue uninterrupted from whichever YA station they are being broadcast than by switching them to weak auxiliary stations. I think that the average listener is more annoyed by the continual switching of sporting broadcasts than by any other fact connected with our generally satis-

factory radio services.

AVERAGE

LISTENER

(Wellington).

Some technical questions by our correspondpi Neha been referred to the Chief Engineer.