Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 5, 17 August 1928, Page 25

Our Mail Bag

ee Will correspondents please practice brevity, as heavy demands are now made on space. All letters must be signed and address given as proof of genuineness; noms de plume for publication are permitted. Address correspondence Editor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

ies ANSWERS TO CORRESPON DENTS. Curious, Invercargill-What you heard was 1XA rebroadcasting WGY, Schenectady, New York, as received ee short-wave. The Radio Listeners’ vide (price 2s. Gd. at dealers, or 2s. 9d. posted from ourselves’ gives a yoluminous list of overseas stations, waye-lengths, ete. Listener-in, Eastbourne.-The giving of weather reports immediately after the church serviee, and before the commencement of the Sunday evening concert, is a service to country listeners, a number of whom have asked for early transmission of weather forecasts. That information is of great value to them, as they do not wish to wait un till the end of the concert. P.A.M.-No address-For your information regarding dogs, please communicate with Miss M. 8. Christmas, canine nurse, 11 Regent Street, Wellington. E.V.BLA. (Te Kuiti) reports hearing a station which gave a call sounding like "4ZL Sydney," but all New South Wales stations are allotted the figure ®. He may have heard a minor Dunedin station. "RAW." should mention the type of circuit he is using in his set.

Souvenir Number.

I WISH to congratulate you on the very fine souvenir number and the varied and valuable information contained therein. I havea five-valve portable set 15in. x. 10in. when closed, imported from England, and use no acrial and get 2YA generally quite clearly, ) particularly last Saturday p.m. with no

LT — fading whatever, and never have statics. Your programmes are a treat to listen to, and I congratulate the company in obtaining such talented artists.-H. J. Capper (Te Puke). Not Suitable for Sunday. WOULD like to enter my protestthis I may say represents a number of listeners in this district-to the programmes broadcast on Sunday evenings after church services from 2Y A. I refer to the band concerts viven in His Majesty's Theatre. We consider they are not in keeping with Sunday services. JT am not. thinskinned, and other listeners who make no profession, are disgusted and switch off. Programmes broadcast should be in keeping with the day. The company s? ould aim at a high standard. There nre six days for secular items, Surely Sunday should be respected. We used to get good after service programmes from 8YA. Now His Majestv's Theatre concerts from 2Y.A are relayed. I trust the company wil see their way to alter their plans,-2Jas. Trewin, Cambridge.

Growl Turns to Praise. UST a line or two to let you know what I thought of the programme of 2YA last night 4th. If the company would put more of ‘this class of performance on I think it would be well received by listeners. This one wns one out of the box, and I think as I am always on the growl about the stuff put over this will be quite a change from me. The show was quite a free and easy in every way and quite easy to listen to. As an old Digger, I thank the company, and in the same breath say encore. I can heer other listeners say Mee tooo. I had a house full of visitors and all said "Good."--J.K., Upper Hutt. Motor Talks.

Se e=- — MUST "congratulate the Broadcasting Company on arranging for a series of weekly motor talks. (rood speakers, provided they know their subject, are, I think, enjoyed every bit as much by the average listener as the standard musical or elocutionary items. With over 100,000 motorists in the Dominion, and over 300,000 people directly or indirectly interested = in motoring, I think Mr. Edwards’s weekly talks could quite easily go on during the 8 to 10 session. Mr. Johannes Anderson and Professor Taylor were always enjoyable, and I think that Myr. Fdward would be equally se. I would like other readers to express their opinions as to whether motor talks should be included in the 8 p.m. to 40 p.m. session.-Wanganui. Quality of Announcements. A NEY BEATER correspondent signd "Femina" touches upon a very real in the announcements from ®2YA. Her letter might with justice have been made much stronger. The hearers to the radio include not only children but many imperfectly educated persons, and it is most important that all words should be properly

‘etl onssepmesenteatapastanesentinmantanddibieaibiadineemisaste tail icdastiomianmenagl ner a + ern pronounced and not slurred, Yor example, "The Governor and his suite" was the other night transmitted as "Me Govenor and his ‘soot’." Latin and French words are continually mispronounced. "July 9" might better be stated as either "the ninth of July" or as "July the ninth." In pronunciation listeners are entitled to the best. I have intended many times to draw attention to the matter, and am pleased that "Femina’ has done so, though I object generally to newspaper anony-: mous correspondence.-William Ferguson (\Wnh.). Kyen the British’ Broadcasting Company are not authority on pronuncia tion, as they are preparing a pronouncing dictionary for their staff which, when completed, will contain pronunciations which will be contentious in some quarters,

{If most of the French words were eiyen a correct Parisian pronunciation. New Zealand-taught French scholars would probably not understand the phrase, and Southern French would no doubt say the phrase was mispronounced. New Zealand incorporates quite a lot of Americanisms, unfortunately, and "soot? is Yank. Ilowever, the announcer does not wish to offend. Further, many mistakes are through nervousness or through sight-reading.-lIlid. |

Fewer Meetings Will Reduce Gambling, REGARDING the ban on the broadcasting of racing and trotting meetings by the Racing Conference, it appears to me that their reason "that it facilitates and encourages betting with bookmakers," is only a hlind to cover the real reason-namely, the clubs are frightened of losing a few

pounds. If it was not for the betting, where would these racing clubs be? It, brings bread and butter to many associated with the turf, and if the Government turned around and said, "Well now, seeing you are trying to stop betting with bookmakers, we will help vou by cutting down the number of race meetings held annually by each club, say, by three-quarters, allowing each club only one or two meetings a year." What howls of rage would we hear from the racing clubs, and how they would harp on the fact that it affected those concerned with the clubs, etc. We would hear a different tale then, Vl warrant, and nothing in that tale would "facilitate and encourage betting with bookmakers." Let me suggest a way of getting past the "ban." several years ago PEC, Sydney, used to broadcast races, the announcer being situated in a building outside the course. Could not a similar thing be done at the main New Zealand meetings? Say, a small tower on a lorry, or from the roof of a building overlooking the course. The racing club would have no control of that and could not say a word against it. Anyhow it would be worth a trial-A Sport (Lower Hutt).

Japanese Stations. [ May last you were good enough to publish two rather lengthy letters of mine reporting reception of the six 10kw. Japanese stations. I have this day received a card from Tokio Central Broadcasting Station verifying my report of reception of JOAK, and I thought the following might be of interest. The card is in the form of a picture postcard, and on one side, in "addition to the design, is pasted a photograph of the station. Hours of transmision are given: 6 p.m., children’s hour; 6.380 p.m. language course; 7.10 p.m.. news; 7.25 p.m., talks, music, ete.; 9.80 p.m. (approx.), time signal and weather forecast. On the reverse

of the card is the address, the DX acknowledgement, and some particulars regarding the station, including the station call, which is given as, "JOAK, JOAK, Kochirawa, Tokio, ChuwoIlosokyokun de arimasu" (I wonder which call sounds the most peculiar ; a listener in New Zealand hearing the nbove or a listener in Japan listening to, "This is station 1YA broadcasting from Messrs. George Court and Son’s Building, Karangahape Road, Auckland"’?). The acknowledgement is signed by S. Ikawa. I would strongly advisé those listeners who are in the habit of tuning in the Japanese stations regularly to make a point of tuning in JOAK at 6.30 p.m. (Japanese time) for a few evenings, and they may be able to learn to duly appreci-

Ree ate what they hear later. I should shortly be receiving verification cards from the five other stations, all of which were written to either at the same time as JOAK or shortly afterwards. A fortnight or so ago I received a letter (the envelope bearing eight postage stamps) from Radio, KZRM, Manila Hotel, Manila, verifying my report of reception of that station and forwarding a schedule of hours of transmission and details of programmes. In reply to the query of "DX" (Te Aroha), in last week’s "Record," as to the identity of station "2FZL," logged by him on July 16. I would suggest that this was station 4ZL Dunedin, whose wavelength thé announcer gives as 271.25 metres. On referring to my log I find that on the ‘above date I logged 4ZL at:7.45 p.m., and again at 10.50 pm. I-have logged this station on several occasions lately, and sometimes the station is still on the air at midnight. Volume is far greater than that of 4YA, and (I don’t think I am exaggerating) about half the strength of 3YA. I would like to add to the many letters already. received, my appreciation of the efforts of the Broadcasting Company in connection with the Tun-ney-Heeney fight. Also the rebroadcast. on: Monday evening last of WGY Sehenectady, by station 1YA,_ the speech from New York being heard very clearly indeed (was this rebroadcast "put over" by 1YA just to show listeners that they could rebroadcast if conditions were favourable?). I hope the Broadcasting Company realise that nowadays rebroadcasts of WGY, PCJI, etc., can provide New Zealand listeners with real entertainment, and that the "novelty" stage has been passed,-

Guy C.

Holmes

(Masterton).

ta See Town Only Once a Year. ) UST a few lines to say how much we appreciate the company’s many efforts to serve us listeners. You will understand how much we do enjoy the concerts when I say we only see town once a year, and months pass between seeing a white woman. We get all New Zealand stations perfectly, including Palmerston North and Gisborne. It is sg sething to work for, something new to discuss, apart from work out here in the backblocks. We get Australian stations quite well, but prefer our own. We received the Pacific flight, and are eagerly awaiting the Tunney-Heeney fight, as we get the New Zealand boxing contests quite well, although at times it is rather hard to hear results owing to enthusiasm of the audience. We are using a six-valve set. The "Record" is of great val . to us,-T.E.W. (Pipiriki). P.S.-The Tunney-Heeney fight came through splendidly; it was a great treat, and we all heartily .consratulate you. We also received the Morse code from Germany and the sta-

tion 2XAD: Thanking you all.-

T.

W.

Suggestions From the Country. M* second issue of "N.Z. Radio Record" to hand, and I would like to congratulate you on your publication. Apart from being able to choose one’s programme, there is much information that is both interesting and helpful. I would also like to heartily congratulate 1YA, and all the artists associated with the comedy, "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary." The performance was a great success, and one for which all concerned deserve full credit. It is interesting to peruse the letters in the mailbag column and see the other chap’s troubles. While some of the "growls" seem to me to be quite in order, many also seem to be the outcome of bad reception. Undoubtedly, good reception is the essence of "radio." AACE IRE ET TEI. TE LET OIE ET ETS I TT re

Indifferent reception, through the set not being up to the mark, and poor loudspeakers, of which there are many, would spoil the best music put on the air. I think 2YA is out in the right | direction to remedy this with their test for sets on July 24, and I would suggest going even as far as starting a eolumn in "Radio Record" in which could be given from week to week short articles telling how to get their sets in order and keep them So. [Some excellent standard articles are available in our ‘Listeners’ Guide," and other matter is published from time to time.-Ed.] Now, Sir, I do not wish to join the Growlers’ League, only to be helpful, so I will make a few suggestions from a country subscribers’ point of view: 1. Cut out half of news and reports session and start musical programme half an hour earlier. As at present it is too late for country folk, who have to be up early. Many of them now only get the first half. 2 In the musical programmes more items such as flute, cornet, banjo-man-dolin, and Hawaiian music would lighten and vary the programme. 3. An alteration of the Saturday afternoon programmes would be very acceptable to many. Football from all the stations, all the afternoon, is to many an affliction. Why not two music and two sport? The local games in each centre are only of interest to a certain proportion of the population of that centre, most of whom manage to get to the matches. In any case, excepting, of course, the big matches, which are of general interest through New Zealand. Many whom I have spoken to on this subject are of the same opinion. 4, The humour on the first half of the programme would be preferable if put on early for the young people who have to get to bed early.

5. Though this "remit"? may be our of order it is nevertheless badly in need of being put through. Co-operate with the license-holders and try and get something done to put Morse splashing where it will not hurt us. Many 2YA’s afternoon concerts and algo in the, evenings for three-quarters of an. hour at a time are spoiled by a. Morse station sending out a soft sibilant hiss. This station upsets the radio reception, so that there is nothing but distortion, and it always seems to pick a time when there is a particularly good item on. Congratulations from this household for your children’s sessions, and also to the uncles and aunts and cousins. I know of many homes here where old and young alike join at the fireside for a really happy hour; and for the bright, happy nature of the sessions I think the uncles and aunts deserve all

the popularity they get.

Radio

(Havelock N.)

Better than Australia. With regard to the concerts being proadeast from New Zealand stations, I would like to say that these concerts: compare more than fayourably with the Australian stations. At one time we used to anxiously await the closing down of New Zealand stations so that we could listen-in to Australian stations. The general average of the concerts being broadcast now is higher than Australia, althou. as yet we do not hear from New Zealand stations such artists as Alfred O’Shea (tenor), Arthur Ellis (baritone), and others I could mention (all the same, a very fine baritone is singing at Christchurch). I have noticed one or two advocat- _. ing more jazz music. Now would | this be quite fair, not more than one in a hundred of those who have listened in here preferred jazz t good music (a lot of the jazz one hears nowadays is not music, it is only a medley of sounds), it would therefore seem that supporters of jazz are being well enough catered for. Just a word in praise of the orchestra at Wellington. I think it will be. generally admitted that this orchestra can quite easily hold its own with anything in Australia. If the programmes continue to improve the way they have done during the past two years, listeners-in will have nothing

to complain about.-

E.M.

N.

(Omimi)_ 0

Appreciation of Wireless. I. do enjoy the music so much, and it is a great pleasure to just tune in when one has friends, no need to entertain them otherwise. J think the pipe organ is the most beautiful, we get every note so clearly, and being the king of instruments, we are glad to hear it sometimes; others again may not appreciate it, but others do. I am not going to criticise anything. If one does not like a certain piece, one can just tune in elsewhere. Special mention may be made of Christchurch Municipal Band. They have played one hymn, during all their evenings, as various subscribers have asked; othgr bands do sometimes. We are ‘stot ‘"vowsers," but as a gentleman remarked, a hymn appeals to one’s finer feel- y jngs, and is uplifting. The wireless is! almost a miracle, and to- those *- who perform "we thank them all," and very miny of the items that come through are unspeakably beautiful.-

"Radio"

(Taranaki).