Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 41, 27 April 1928, Page 13

Our Mail Bag

Taranaki Reception. Hd, J. L. Payne (New Plymouth): I regret to notice that you are still miaiitaining that we must seek locally for the cause of 2YA’s distortion, the plain insinuation S$eing that our receivers are to blame. Your past slurs om North ‘Taranaki’s receivers are still rankling, ‘ag you are doubtless aware, There is one fact which I would like to point out to you, It is this: the same ‘‘distortion producers," at the touch of a knob or dial, bring in clear, sparkling reception of foreign stations operated on various waye-lengths. Can your technical experts explain this away? Do you claim, Mr. Editor, that the Broadcasting Company’s own engineer supports you in your opinion that our reecivers are to blame for our distorted receptions of 2YA? He has investigated for himself, which is evidently more than you have done. I should like to see the "Record’’? ru on the same lines as the ‘‘Radio Times," the B.B.C.'s official organ, and not dabble in highly controversial matters on which its outlook appears to be infiuenced by a desire to show the company in the light of a public benefactor, and listeners as ingrates. , | [Our correspondent’s letter 1s apparently aimed at ‘"‘Megohm’s" article in last week’s issue on "The Causes of ‘Distortion."’? "Megohm" is a very experienced and competent expctrimenter and writer, and has a perfectly free hand to express his views and experieuces, the whole purpose of his writings being to benefit listeners. We do not dictate his writings or even the subject of them in the slightest, and in most cases do not peruse them till after they are printed. The personal tone of our correspondent’s letter is therefore guite uncalled for. Qn perusing "Megohm’s" article we cannot see any justification for sensitivene;, on the part of Taranaki. It is a purely general article, and is certainly not aimed at Taranaki reception or distortion. It is cimed to help listeners analyse the causes of poor reception. What does seem puzzling is why some parts of Taranaki should get poor reception from 2YA while other parts of the conntry get it well. Our correspondent is quite welcome to express his views, but a slightly different tone might be more pleasant. Megohin’? will be quite pleased to have any errors in his articie pointed out.-Kd. "Radio Record.’ ] Query Answered. A correspondent advises ‘A Listencr,’ in response to his query, that the station he heard ‘"helloing" is 2BH, an amateur trausmilter in Wright Street, Wellington. Eulogy of 3YA. Perry Road (Christehurch).--In yiew of the commencement of a new radio year and also in view of the controversy regarding the affairs of — the R.B.C., I wish to just express very briefly my opinions on some of the matters concerned. I have written the company many times, and certainly Whatever my Ictters have lacked they have never been lacking in candour and frankness, and they have at the same time, I trust, been free from any ‘suggeslion of personal bitterness or animosity, which seems to pervade all correspondence from the Queer (pardon!), I mean "Queen" City. As one who has often groaned in spirit over the presence of, or the lack of, certain classes of entertainment, I will admit freely the programmes are wonderfully good now, and show an enormous advance on those of even six months ago, and that they are improving every night. I have been watching the progranunes from the other centres, and, though good, they cannot compare with the ones sent out from 8YA. Many items presented here are often put over the same night or week from one of the ‘Aussies’? with the credit balance strongly on this side of the Tasman. I say that although I am strong for Australia in lots of ways! Mr. Clyde Carr is equal to, if not superior to, most announcers, cither here or "across the way."

I am glad that musical comedy and comic opera (especially the former) are | | } now being regularly presented. ‘Going Up" was a "rattling good show," and so was the "Country Girl? and ‘Monsieur Beaucaire."’ At the same time the fact that many items apart from the piece set down for the evening are introduced is au excellent idea. That is where the ‘permanent staff plan’? crashed, for the same little ‘‘set’"? over and over again in one evening ‘‘bored us stiff" even though the singers were really fine. The increasing use of the gramophone is a splendid sign despite whatever may be said by those who have a worn-out portable and half a dozen scratched records. "These are the ones who write to the "Record" saying "we have our own gramophones, so cut it out of the radio programsnes."’ It causes ime no tears that the movie shows have got greedy and. withheld their music (good though it was!). The overtures each night are miles better, and we don’t have to endure the jaughing, which was very irritating at times. Being able to select an overture in keeping with or from the piece for the night is worth while losing the other. Saturday night at 3YA is as good as any from "Aussie."? The big roster of artists is astonishing, and they are all "top-notchers," too. The re-broadcasts’ of 2YA of late have been good, and are always welcome (especially Lriday’s "All Black’? farewell). Could the Aucklanders find fault with that? ‘he gramophone sessions in the afternoon and between the races are splendid; the selection of records being as wide and diverse as possibly could be. In regard to Rugby football in Christchurch, "Don’t come at their bluff’ is the advice of dozens of listeners, Once relays are paid for-‘‘good-night’"’ programmes! Donbtless something else could be put across, but don’t Ict it be League or Soccer-‘small-time stuff’? as they sav in vaudeville. Once more admitting that 30s. is cheap.

The Programmes. Philip Williamson (Whangamata): I have been quite interested, not to mention somewhat amazed, to read of the yarious complaints put forward regarding the programmes put on the air by the N.Z.B.C. Considering the comparatively small population of New Zealand and consequent limitation of talent, it seems to me that the company is to be highly commended for, not only the exceedingly fine quality of the programmes broadcast, but also on their variation, and the manner in which all tastes are catered for. I notice that there have been complaints regarding the constant re-appearance of the same artists, but when one considers that such artists are ainong the very best in New Zealand, I, for one, fail to see any cause for complaint, I think that I am right in saying that those who complain about the Broadcasting Company are very much in the minority. The bulk of listeners are, I think, more than satisfied with the entertainment provided. It is, of course, impossible to please everyone, but the Broadcasting Company seems to do all that is humanly possible in this direction. Another bone of contention among a certain section of the public seems to be with reference to the non-publica-tion of detailed financial statements. I may ask, do the regular patrons of picture theatres and so on expect it to be their right, since they pay for admission, to be informed exactly how the sum total of their various payments are expended by the management of the places they patronise? A. certain section, however, argues that since the license fees are collected per the medium of th Post Office--a Government institution-that the people have a right to know all about the exact manner in which their fees are expended. To my mind, the Post Office, in this direction, acts purely in the nature of a collecting agent, for which service it is paid in much the same manner as any other collecting agent, such as a

solicitor is paid by his cbhent I understand that it is stated by some people that since the Government helped to finance the Broadcasting Comapny, that the company should publish detailed financial accounts. Here again, I may ask, does the Government, which has advanced vast sums of money to farmers, expect each farmer, particularly if he pays his interest, etc., regularly, to forward copies of his profit and loss account and balance-sheet for the perusal of the general public? While writing, there are two small suggestions I would like to make. The first is with reference to the ‘‘Radio Record," in which I think publication of photographs of the various station announcers would Le greatly appreciated. We all know their voices, and if we knew their faces, too, a still closer personal touch with them would be felt. I suppose there is no voice better known in New Zealand than that of the editor announcer of 2YA, ané many would probably be interested to see photographs of him and the other announcers.

The second suggestion is with reference to an educational hour for children, particularly for those in country districts. I would suggest that each station devote one afternoon session a month in this direction, .1 should like to see some country schoolmasters take up the matter in these columns. [We undersand this matter is in hand with the Department of Education, and . an announcement may be expected soon.-Ed.]} News and Inquiries, W. Hannan (Matiere): In last week’s issue of the ‘Radio Record" Mr, Johnstone reported reception of the unknown station working below KFON. The station is probably the first harmonic of 4YA, on about 233 metres, which can be tuned in clearly. There is also an American station, KI'WM, Oakland, Cal., on 236 metres, which I logged to-night (Sunday) for the first time. Hawaiian music . was being broadcasted on request. At 7.80 this eventing, on about 2384 metres, I heard a station close down thus: "After 2BL, station 2GHG, now closing down. Goodbye everybody.’? Mr. Bank also reports reception of an unknown station between £20-210 metres early in the morning. At 2.86 this morning I logged a station on 232 metres. Hawaiian musi¢e was being broadcast, and one of .the performers was whistling the tune. ‘he Station closed down at 2.35, without giving the call sign. I logged another station at 1 o’clock this morning, which I believe to be an Indian station, working one and a half degrees below 2B. Orchestral music was being broadcast. The announcing was in a foreign language, sing-song fashion, almost a wail, in fact. The station closed at 1.10. At 1.45 a station was heard one degree below 5CI,, broadcasting queer organ music, closing down at 1.50, giving no call sign. The station is situated in the Philippine Islands, I think. Can any listener enlighten me regarding the above stations? What’s Wrong, Anyway? "Programime"’ (Hunterville): Lately I have read many letters about radio programmes not being up to the mark, Well, I am informed that the listeners pay 380s. per annuum to install and operate a radio set, not to manage the progranimes. Perhaps if the dissatisfied listeners petition the N.Z.B.C, they may be allowed to run the stations too If there were no stations in New Zealand: the listeners would be paying their money for Australian reception, which is not always good. Now what’s wrong with the programmes ? The N.Z.B.C. can’t please everyone. The programmes here are just as: good as anywhere else, if not better, The Programmes. N. 5. Francis (ower Hutt): 1 would like you to grant me ‘a little more space in your valuable paper. It was with much interest, und quite a little amusement, that I read the letter written by ‘Satisfied,’’ or was it ‘‘Hasily Satisfied," in this week’s ‘Radio Record." He helps my side of the question along quite a lot. One can at once see, by the way in which he replics to the few words which I wrote merely expressing my opinion of the programmes, an opinion, by the way, which I am quite entitled to express, that he is either connected with the radio business or else he is one of those persons who can’t he convinced that an improvement in the programme is necessary, for I am sure that even the Broadcasting Company themselves (Continned on Page 14.)

Our Mail Bag

(Continued from Page 13.) would not go so far as to say that they have reached perfection as regards the programmes. As for ‘‘Satisfied’s" little joke about the oxiphone, a thing which exists only in his, evidently, rather limited imagination, I think it was rather crnde and even a little vulgar coming from one who has such refined tastes. Hoping that ‘Satisfied’ will now be sporting enough to sign his own name to auy reply he should think necessary to make to this. Artists Wanted. Robert Radford (Johusonville): In a recent issue of the ‘‘'New Zealand Radio Record," April 6, 1928, page 5, in the top left-hand corner, I noticed an article headed, ‘‘Artists Wanted," and the leading phrase ending as follows, ‘‘Where are the new perforiners??? Would you grant me a smail space in your ‘Record’ by saying that the Broadcasting Companies of New Zealand ask for new performers in the hope that they will not come forward. There are good singers in the Wellington district who have had years -of first-class training and who haye eritered their names in the ‘book’ and have been told they will be called upon, but that is months age, and they are still waiting, and they will have to keep on waiting, for the simple reason that the broadcasting stations have got their own concert parties, and the said parties mean to stick to the radio--just glance through the weekly programme. So before amateurs can hecome perfect in the art of broadcasting they ought to be given a chance, and then perhaps they will receive the encouragement mientioned in your article. Doug.’s Queries Answered. Listener: In last week’s issue of thie ‘Radio Record’"’ I noticed a few queries from ‘Doug.’? Perhaps the following may be of some assistance to him. In cases where he has quoted figures, such as 20-66, I take it the 20 is on the left-hand dial, and 66 on sregeneration condenser. Whistle on 96 is evidently 771, Tobart. Whistle on 20 is probably 3DB, Melbourne, on 255 metres, Whistle on 30 is probably 2UW, Sydnev. Whistle on 64 is evidently 2GB, Sydney on 310 metres. He heard whistles on 20 and 30 at 1.80 am. That would be midnight in Australia. I have heard stations like 8DB and 2UW working until well after midnight.