Views in Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 34, 9 March 1928, Page 13

Views in Our Mail Bag

Daylight Saving and Other Points. N. Cole Baker (Port Waikato): I send my comment on Sidey ‘Time, though aware that LT am rather late in doing so. Krom the point of view of the farmer (not dairying), I look at it in the following ways. (1) For working hours, we have always worked by the sun and continue to do so. (2) On holidays it is a decided adyan- | tage in town to get to shops, banks, _ete., an hour earher, to country people, ~ who are habitually carly risers. A great deal of tite seems wasted in -the city on a summer moruing. When travelling, especially by car, you can get on the road earlicr, when travelling is most pleasant, as the hotels will give you a meal earlier, and garages are open, etc. — (i) Vor the radio, We -goiss all the children’s sessions and

most of the news session, and in midsummer, the first hour from the more distant stations. (I don’t agree with those who complain of missing the Aussie stations, as they can sit up if they want to.) However, considering the decided adyantages of Summer ‘time, I think the transmission hours should be put off an hour, and the same applies to all indoor entertainments, as there is no benefit to the health of the people to let indoor workers out an hour earlier and then inyite them in again to pictures or radio when it is still daylight. Now for the programmes. They are good, and are improving, but I am afraid the LYA ‘Trio are not making friends as they should. That they are good musicians, and play highelass music, there is no doubt, but

we require education, and they must lead us up gradually. My own standard, which, I think, is fairly representative, includes — such works as. -Gragas’ Serenaia, Henry VIII Classics (German) ; Intermezzo "Ca valeria Rusficana," "Tanst Overture" (Gounod) , "Spring Song," "Melody in I," "Brooklet’s Tale’ (Jurgmann); ‘Romance" (Spendsen), "Ya Paloma," "Blue Danube Waltz,’ ete. The point is that, as loudspeakers are to be found in average homes, you must supply them with music which sounds natural in that setting, otherwise «it has a’ "canned" effect, and not all music "cans" well, though, some does, as, for instance, a brass band: always eoes well on: gramophone or radiv.

ep’. (Rotorua) writes: -"omice re: porting my reception of KGER, Long: beach, California, I have received confirmation from that station, An extract frou the letter reads, "We checked oyer our programmes of the past and found your reception was correct, and I am enclosing one of our own KGER verification stamps. KGIER is operating on only 100 watts." J have received verification of reception from many American stations, but look upon the receiving of KGER as my best effort on the normal wave band. Had the station been heard only the wnee, I would not have deemed it as such, but I can rely upon receiving the station under average good condi‘ions. At times, now that the days ie drawing in, KGER_ comes through at fair speaker strength. Of course,

under the same conditions, KFON, /( Longbeach, California, is quite as strong as 3YA. In passing, I heard KEON announce just recently that they liave received permission and are increasing power to 1500 watts. In that case, they should be received in most parts of New Zealand at respectable strength. The American stations are now thick on my dials. Thirty-seven have been heard during the past two weeks. High Brove Taste Growing. Workaday (Christchurch): Despite what all the ‘lowbrow’ people may say, if there is one thing that the Broadeasting Company deserves credit for it is the standard which has heen set in regard to. music. It will be a sorry day for broadcasting when — the powers that be agree to cater for the wishes of only the lowbrows. I am not a highbrow nor a Jowbrow--I am just between the two in regard to miuusic, with an inclination of late to qualify as

a lughbrow. I have been a consistent listener for a long while, and I am proud to say that IT havé now a keener appreciation of what is good music. So must anyone who listens in to any extent. Jadging from my own experience, andmany ‘people must be like me, breadcasting nist mean a great revival in’ music, that is, of course, if it is taken full advantage of by all Jovers of music. There is no greater medium for the intellectual and artistic uplift of the nation than this modern miracle of radio broadcasting, which takes_ the best of the werld’s music right into the liomes of the people. Music, such as the jowbrow — correspotidents want, would have a debasing effect on the people. There are enough ‘influences in that direction alre ‘adv. Such lowhrows: are not obliged to renew their licenses. "Ilhey are really so few that the ‘Broadcasting Company would never miss the loss of their license fees. . Length of Sermons.

Cashmere (Christchureh) : I noted in this issue of the ‘Radio Record" that Professor Shelley, of Christchurch, speaking with reference to the length of lectures, said that the average person could not listen to a lecture over the wireless for longer than a quarter of an hour, and take it in. I hope this remark will meet the eve of all church ministers, and that they will restrict their serinons to somewhere near that length of time, On Sunday evening there was a sermon that must have

gone a full 25 minutes-ten minutes too lons, to please radio listeners, whatever tnav have been the effect on the congregation. It is worth while for preachers to cater for their unseen audience more than they do. They should also talk more into the microphone. Radio in Napier, I read Dr. Zicle’s article in this week’s issue with much interest, and if it was not for these howlers radio reception would be very good here now. The Australian stations are nearly all coming in here as Joud as Wellington, and last evening 2BI, and 2FC were roaring in at 8.30 N.Z.S.T. The chilan session was plainly heard from ‘

ast evening while listening to a talk on "Politics and the Humour of it"? from 2YA, I was surprised to hear a man’s yoice talking very quickly and almost as loud as the speaker at QVA. I could not understand what this new voice was saying, as it certainly did not sound English to me. Could you or any reader who may have heard this tell me the location of this strange station. The time was about 9 o’clock, and the voice was heard during other items as well. I am very curious to know what station it was. yrC’s relay of 2LO came in here wonderfully well last week, as well as 2BL, 2GB, 38LO, 381R, 10G ana 2KY. Y heard 5CL, Adelaide for the first time last week. The Aussics are good to listen to, as there is no fading. 1 had a new Aussie station last night, but could not hear the announcement, as static was rather bad. I think it was 2UW. KEFON can be heard every evening until about 9.30, but fades very hadiv. . .

T think 3ZC is a wonderful Mttie station, as he comes in here very clearly and does not dade. YA is as. loud as Wellington in the, latter part of the evening now. * Listeners here will be elad when Daylight Saving "comes to an end} ag there will be no necd to sit ap late for Aussie stations, and TYA and 3YA will come in better also, as thev are net very goud until dark. "he programmes from. New Zealand stations are all that can be desired, but listeners would like to hear orchestral music from 2YA. Could not a studio orchestra be formed and one or two of the big picture theatres be relayed. ‘This. would be very acceptable as well as a change from the exccss of singing. I have not heard Mr. A. A. Crump and Mr, Barrett and several other clarinet soloists for a long time. "Would like to hear a few more clarinet solos, as they are good and come. throueh well. |

2VA’s afternon sessions are always wood, as there is no fading and no static in the afternoon. Are the Gisborne and Talmerston North Radio Societies broadcasting now, as I have never heard them? and +f 87C comes in so well I think they could be heard here. The set I use is a 5-valve, and T am more than pleased with the results | obtained in this recent hot weather. In conclusion, I hope that something will be done to stop howlers in this

district and also that 2YA will put on orchestral music in its evening sessions. I hope to hear who the station is on 2¥A’s wave-length. News from 2YA on Silent Day. "Listener-in’?? (Ohakune).-When_ I suggested a new hour on Wednesday from "YA, now silent on that day, I saw no reason why this shonld compel the staff to work seven days weekly, and although I anderstand little about the running of a broadcasting station, I think if it could be arranged to broadcast the news on that day the extra cost would be far more than balanced by the great benefit to farmers. Your correspondent from Bay of Islands cannot get 2YA in daylight, so he.does not want the -other: listeners to get in on him, Sour grapes, is it not?

2YA’s Reception, I’. ‘J. Shanley (Wanganui).-In last week’s "Record" you asked fora’ report of your transmission. With the exception of the ‘Maori’? night and the 20th, 2ist, 22nd, and 23rd of this month, 2YA has not been clear; there being quite a blurred effect, There is quite. a striking. contrast when .turning over to 2BL (Sydney), where the signals come throngh as clear as crystal. I am quite sure that. with yocal items and.speech that.the artists are too near the "mike." We have fonnd that the artist with. a smaller voice comes through much clearer., The Symons-Flwood trios come through well, and are a treat. The band items come through well, as they are at the end of the studio (I was through it at the New Year). Mr. Haywood’s mandoline solos the first two weeks were very good, but’ of late it has been a piano solo, with mandoline accompaniment, which is ‘not fair to the’ artist, who is good on the instrnment, This remark applies the same to other artists where the piano is too loud, You will pardon my plain remarks. I like 2YA very well, and it is only with the hope that your broadcast may be even hetter that these lines are written. [If you get 2BI, clearly, is there any chance of your set being overloaded for 2¥A?-Hd.]