Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 31, 17 February 1928, Page 15

Our Mail Bag

Daylight-Saving Cursed, Dairy Iarmer, Aria.-tI think it is a good idea to get the opinion of the dairy farmers on this matter of day-light-saving. I have spoken to nearly all the jarmers round this district about it, and they nearly all give ait a good round curse. Versonally, 1 do think it is the most useless and Silliest piece of legislation that was ever put through tarliament, and do hope it will die a natural death * this next session, ‘The funny thing about it is the author of it is a lawyer, and gets up about 8.30 to his breakfast, and then reads the morning paper before getting to his office. Less Growls and More Credit. Pansy (Peione).-For some time past i have reaa, sumetimes with imterest, other times with disgust at tlie Miauy complaints from susteners-in. What a happy worid it would be, ut We would aiways loox for the best in everyting ana everypody, imstead ol the worst. ome iolks want news cut out, others lectures, jazz, shippmg, €ic. Are not some a littie Seimsur ‘They surely torget that some tolxs have receiving sets, with the object. of hearing arrivals and departures at Warious ports of siups, so tuat they can trace their loved ones and yet into comununication by telegram with these mien that are domg their bit in bringing coal, etc. to Wellington. When 3 emike an item that does not intercst me, I am content to lis.en, feehng | tnere are niany people interested, With reference to the broadcasting stations they deserve every praise for their untiring efforts in trymg to please the public in spite of the ssany criticisins they get at times. When we look at the great improvemcnt and longer hours of the programmes we are imdeed certainly getting good value tor our £1 10s. per annum license. Wishing the Broadcasting Compauy every success. |

"Flaming Youth’s’’ idea. Young Bucx (xort Anuuyri1).-Be-Hold! smother criic wistes to yoice kis opiilious of plograimimes ‘The artists are o.k. Bat why shoala we, Of ihe "Hanuuy youl’ xzeneration, be compelled to uscen to em alter item of classics? Couldn’t there be wore popwair music selected? Or 3s New Zealand devoid ot vauuevilic artists, such as the Atssies haver 4) dow’t mind nulitary bands, or occasionally someting classical; but listcn to this--a few eveumys ago | tuned in to L¥YA-an instrumental trio, AYA anu 8YA ditto all at the same moient! Now I wouldn’t have mmued if there kad been any tunelul air in the compositions, but it sounded more like scales or a musical study. Mind you, a programme of jazz is just as monotouus, as L have been brought up in a combined musical atmosphere. 1 don’t wish to offend the artists as their technique and harmony are wonderful; but can’t they play popular music? When you come to consider that the mmajority of listeners are of the younye generation, couldn’t something in their line be put out more ofteu- I read in last week’s ‘‘Record," in ‘‘Switch’s’’ column, of a prominent Sydney musi- cian’s opinion of "high-brow" sinsic. It should have been given a full page in large type}

Good Results from ‘"Megohm’s’’ Four-valver. S G. Taylor (Levin).-I am _ writing this note concerning the performance of a four-valve Browning-Drake set, which might prove of interest. QVA is the only New Zealand station at present giving good results; volume good, and no fading. 8YA and 1YA, however, are quite good at their londest. but fade very badly. 38ZC, Christchurch, comes through well, considering iis power, and does not fade so much as the two larger stations. The Australian stations are the ones for

volume, however. The 8 o’clock chimes last evening (‘liursday) from , 2BL could have been heard half a mile away, the volume being more than twice that of 2YA, At 9.80 p.m, 2BL is excellent speaker strength, and on three evenings of this week the same station was distinctly audible on the speaker, using only two valves, and with earth and aerial switches disconnected. 21FC, 40G, 8L0, and 2GB were also good speaker strength at 10.30 p.m. last evening. 2K Y was also audible all over the room, while 7ZL, BAR, and 2UW were also on the list. A soprano solo was also heard from an "Aussie" station between 2BL and 2GB. The above results were obtained using 2 p.m. 3’s and 2 p.m, 4’s, with about 80 volts on the plate. For a set of moderate price, and very ecouomical running costs, the Brown-ing-Drake four-yalver, such as described in the "Radio Record" by ‘Megohm," will take a lot of beating. | Gramophone Reception, Mrs. A. A. R. (Wanganni).-Hayiny been a keen listener-in since the initiation of 2¥YA station, I must con--gratulate them on the nature of the prograinmes they put over the air. Keception here in Wanganui is well-nigh perfect, and in the evenings especially. ‘The variety of gramophone items during the afternoon sessions cannot be criticised, but one thing strikes me as being very marked-it is the speed at which the records are played. Most of the records are set at too low a speed, causing them to drag badly, spoiling reception beyond doubt. H.M V. records shonld be played at a speed of 78 revolutions to the minute, and Columbia at 80 revolutions. These I have tested with my machine (an H.M.V.), and find that best results are arrived at by being careful to regulate them thus. Since noticing the drag in reception I have tested the pace of the records broadcast from 2YA with my machine, and found that they were placed at a speed of 75 revolutions. If this question were looked into I believe it would greatly improve reception for listeners in the afternoon. The plaver piano items are in comparison exceptionally clear, which seems to prove that there is some faulu somewhere in the gramophone items. Seeing that it is to our mutual interest, I write this in the hope that it may prove of some little use in helping to satisfy afternoon enthusiasts, and not to mention the everincreasing liope of more licenses We had auite a number of friends spending the evening listening-in on the night of the "Maori Pageant.’ Hardly a word was spoken during the whole of the performance, That, in itself, is the biggest compliment that ean be paid. We were unanimons in pronouncing it yet another success to 2YA\’s already spleudid achievements.

Some Suggestions. Q.T.C. (Masterton), being a subscriber to your excellent paper, I would like to make some comments on the programmes broadcast by 2Y.\, and to add a little of what I hope to be constructive criticism. I cnjoy very much the items put over by this station, particularly those given by the ‘Symoens-Hliwood-Short"" ‘Trio, both as soloists end as a trio, and also the singing of Miss Myra Sawyer and of Mr. Len barnes. Certainly the most complctely enjoyable evening I have spent in listening to 2YA was the night of the studio presentation of ‘‘Maritana’’ some weeks back. It is the opinion of a number of listeners, and it is certainly mine also, that 2YA ‘talks’ too much. ‘The most interesting ‘‘talk" I have heard from that station was that given by an American gentleman, some weeks ago, regarding the production of moving pic-