Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 16, 2 November 1928, Page 31

Auckland Notes

(By ‘

Listener

LASt Wednesday’s "Mystery Night" at 1YA aroused even more interest than its predecessor, and large numbers of listeners, even though they did not actually compete, showed theniselves quite anxious to test their. know~ ledge of music and performers. Such a night as the one given by 1YA is a fine demonstration of the educative influ. ence which broadcasting is having on the realms of music, Undoubtedly the general public does not yet realise the full extent of this influence, but it is gradually coming to do so. HE enthusiasm with which the local musical and dramatic committee is facing its tasks is displayed in the scope which it is now affording to local: lite rary talent. This is being given the chance to delye into the new field of the radio play-a field which offers great scope. Too much publicity cannot be given to the competition, and it is to be hoped that Aucklanders will respond as enthusiastically in the submission of libretto suitable for the air. Plays with a real New Zealand atmosphere would arouse intense interest among listeners. Let us hope that Auckland soon has them-plenty of them. DURING last week-end local set-own- ers were decidedly "up against it." Never, to the writer’s knowledge, have atmospheric conditions been worse. Our small station, 1ZQ, was almost blanketed by static, it was torture to attempt to tune 2YA, and to hear Australia was an impossibility. The disturbance dix appeared as quickly as it came, and on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings ideal conditions returned. K{\NTHUSIASTS in radio deyelopment are eager to examine the automatic "S.0.8." alarms with which — several steamers visiting the port are now equipped. Ship _ operators are invariably courteous to inquirers, and many an Aucklander has had a demonstration of the working

of one of the latest piece of radio wizardry. Many are surprised to learn that the 8.0.8. signal has been superseded by another, which the instrument handles unfailing gly, and that our arch enemy, static, even takes a hand in raising false alarms by exactly duplicating the new-adopted signal. [HERE is a growing demand that politics, in homeopathic doses, should be on the air during the current. campaign. Radio has been an _ outstanding agent in’ the Presidential campaign in America. In Australia it is being used. extensively by party leaders, and everyone in Britain anticipates that next year’s election will be fought largely over the air. Country listeners particularly would welcome brief radio addresses by representatives of each party, but, of course, the present regulation banning controversial matter stands in the way. The feeling exists, and it is growing, that the Government might waive the regulation, in no party spirit, but for the advantage of the large body of electors who would rather hear the real voice of the leaders than read their speeches: in cold print. The suggestion may not be a feasible one with the brief time now available, but even if 2YA alone could be utilised, affairs political could be broadcast for the benefit of the whole Dominion. ‘wo factors contributing to the grow of radio licenses in this district are the popularity of short-wave reception and the incorporation of the latest types of valves in high-efficiency sets. Local retail firms are finding a keen demand for screened-grid sets, and the assembly of these is becoming quite an important part of radio trade.