Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 24, 30 December 1927, Page 15

Our Mail Bag

MORE JAZZ WANTED. S.W.B. (Tauranga).-Just a feay lines to ucknowledge the improvement in the power of YA, Wellington. When this station first started on the air my 6valye neutrodyne often brought in 2BL,’ Sydney, at a much greater volume and consistency than 2¥A\, but now I am pleased to say that matters have been very wiuch reversed, I have something to say regarding the quality of the prtogrammes which I do not want to be taken in the air of a complaint, but rather as a sugecstion of the programmes that would be enjoyed by a number of the listeners with whom I am acquainted, Waving three good reliable stations, I would -suggest that they took turns at providing a variance to the erenings. If this was followed through and each of the stations took turns at the particular evenings, then anyone who hated jazz need not listen to jazz, but could find his choice at the other two. The Broadcasting Company states that it is not catering for the taste of the particularly classical people, but wishes to provide popular — entertainments. I am sure that a fair majority of the people (the young people at any rate) enjov 4 light class of music, and one or two nights a week from each station is surely not asking too much for the pleasure of the younger generation. P.S.-We have yerv little banjo, ukeele, steel guitar, xvylophone or monthorgan solos. ‘These items come through particularly well. | : MARKET REPORTS. JAC. (Peilding).-Writing as a listener out of tonch of daily papers, I think there could be much improvement in the time dcvoted to news and

reports. Might J] suggest that shipping aid mail notices be curtailed. More British Official Wireless items with less detait. The list of personal ifems is growing daily and could be reduced to two or three. Meat and Dairy Board reports have too many figures, and are called too frequentivy when we get the report of other exporting firms as well. The New Zealand items of interest taken from the papers could be extended to advantage. As to weather reports it is most important that the forecast be given at the same tinie each night, say 9 o’clock. Being a listener for the past eighteen months I must congratn- | late the company on the standard of : concert programines it provides. MORE SfORTING WANTED. AML. (Sonthland}.-i am writing 4 this on behalf of a number of southern | radio enthusiasts witl the hope that your assistance may remedy the complaint which I am unfolding. Until the advent of Mr. Sidev’s davlight saving, or, to be correct, radio kifler, we Southianders enjoved the nightiv re--ports and entertainments, and more, so the sporting section’s news. bat Sidey’s extra hour has been the cause of pushing us ont of touch with New Zealand stations until 9 p.m. In fact as I write it is just that honr now, and with my five-valye set I can just get | 2YA, but no more. The radio service has been a great boon, and you can well imagine our disappointment at being marooned from it during the last few weeks. With | the approach of Christmas and New Year the radio set would he of great service in keeping us nosted up with sporting results, especially as the nostal service will be so dormant. Would it be possible for the New Zealand stations to broadcast the snorting results, say, from 9 p.m, to 9.15 p.m.? Should the wowser section of your listeners not care to hear the winners of the Anckland Cup. Sheffield handiean, or hoat race, tet them shut off and have their

cup of tea or water during that intervai, ’m sure, if Mr. Varris can realise what a boon this would prove, he would have no hesitation in introducing this new procedure, as we if this remote section are not the only sufferers. [Unfortunately vour idea, thongh quite alt right in itself, is impractic-: able. If the conrpany could be certain that vour views represented the considered opinion of the majority of listeners, it would doubtless be only tno willing to provide the service suggested. There are, however, many people who object to the sporting broadcasts, and they would be lond in their complaints if the sporting announcements were made as suggested. You will have to ‘boost radio" in vour district so that further focilities will be availalle to you.-Ed j NEW STATIONS, LOGGIP. Gav 0. Holmes (Masterton) -In last week’s issue of the ‘Radio Record" "Switch? ineluded in his notes a paragraph regarding my having logged Station KFKB. He may be interested ‘to learn that since then I have nicked np feail letters received) Station KFVD. Venice, California, onerating of a wave-lencth of 208.2 metres, using @ nower of 250 watts. Another new station being logged by me at present 15 8ZC, Christchurch. overating on a werelength of about 243 metres. FIRST WIRELESS CHESS GAME. W. FW. FE Abbevr (Aramohn).-On Sentember 1, 191%. two vessels., the Yainui, bound for Wellington, and tre Ulimaroa, for Bluff, left Hobart at the same time. A game of chess was playe@ by wireless telegraphy, hetween parties on hoth steamers At midnight, when T retired to me cabitt on the latter hnat, the wame was still in nrogress, with the opnosine plavers at Jeast three hundred miles mort. Chess was ‘ayn the air’ before SYA caine into existence.