Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 12, 16 November 1928, Page 10

Auckland Notes

(By

Listener

TT‘O say that radio listeners in Auck- ' land are indignant at the demands made by the Auckland City Council for the privilege of broadcasting the Munieipal Band, is to put the case quite mildly. At first certain programmes by this band were broadcast by 1YA without any demand being made by the eouncil for payment. The broadcasting did more to popularise Auckland’s fine combination of instrumentalists than many a municipal concert would have done. Later the privilege of broadcasting both band and organ recitals was accorded to the Broadcasting Company for £300 a year, an excellent addition to’ the. receipts for municipal music. Now, we are told in the daily Press, the Council demands £750 per annum

for the right to broadcast such a limited uumber of petformances that the sum works out at over £20 per concert. Sydney stations paid only twice this amount for the privilege of broadcasting the most expensive opera company that had ever been brought to Australia. The demand seems exorbitant. And there is another aspect to the case which the council, seemingly, has not geen, or will not see. The band is maintained out of the public rates, for it is far from self-supporting, and is not hired out for any functions. Why should some ratepayers-those who possess radio sets-be called upon to pay twice towards the support of a municipal organisation? Already they make their annual contribution, yet again, from their eontributions to broadcasting, an astounding figure is demanded of them. And the main object of a municipal band should be an educative one! By the demands they have made the City Council is absolute-

ly blocking this objective. As far as listeners are concerned there will be much yet to say concerning the attitude of the council. 1 *4 achieved another triumph in speed -on Tuesday, when listeners throughout the province were enabled to follow the Melbourne Cup as it was run, and to know the result as soon as did the spectators on the course at Flemington. Through 2MH, Sydney, the account was picked up on a locallymanufactured set at the house of Mr. J. L. Davies, and thence was sent by land-line to 1YA. ‘Though there was some interference, the account was distinetly audible, and there was no difficulty in hearing the names of the placed horses. ON Saturday last 1YA gave its attention to tennis, and put out quite an interesting description of the matches between the British and New

Zealand teams, which were played on the Stanley Street courts. The aecounts of the contests were well handled by Mx. Hutter. a. AN old resident’ of Auckland, a lady of over 80 years, takes a keen -interest in politics, and reads all election speeches, though physical disabili prevents her from attending meetiny¥s, So eager is she to hear the results of the polling at the earliest opportunity that she is having a radio receiver installed specially for the purpose. She will not be the only one who will take this most speedy and comfortable way of obtaining the decisions of the electors. Realising the excellent service which the radio service renders them, thousands of listeners will now stay peacefully at home, instead of craning their necks to read details hurriedly flashed upon a screen in or off a main street. Again broadcasting will demonstrate its public utility.