Notes by "Switch"

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 22, 14 December 1928, Page 31

Notes by "Switch"

A COUNTRY visitor told "Switch" the other day that the news items broadcast by 2YA, Wellington, are exceedingly welcome to him and his family, seeing that they receive only three mails a week owing to the remoteness of his home. Radio in this particular respect has proved a great boon to way-back settlers. City folk, with their morning and evening newspapers, must make allowances when news items which they have already read, are put on the air. The people in distant areas are eagerly listening to every word. ‘ HE Wellington Hospital Board proposes shortly to extend the broadcast receiving installation, with which a number of wards are now equipped, to the new wards adjoining Riddiford Street. The new building was specially wired for the purpose during the course of its construction. Broadcast listening by the patients in the hospital continues to work wonders in hastening their recovery. The diversion from the dread monotony of a sick bed provided by listening-in is now recognised far and wide as a remarkable curative agent. A NATURAL result following the habit of listening-in by patients in the Wellington Hospital is that many, on being restored to their health, have so missed listening-in that they have purchased radio sets which they otherwise would not have thought of. An ex-patient informed "Switch" that after enjoying broadeasting for many hours-in the hospital he found on his discharge that, although funds were low, he simply had to invest in a set-a crystal outfit. which is to give place-shortly to a valye set.

AS’ a matter of general public policy, "Switch" is adverse to the proposal of licensing additional broadcasting stations in New Zealand centres, which already possess 2 full-powered station. In Sydney the air is cluttered with local broadcast stations, and thousands of listeners near the metropolitan area seldom, if ever, have an opportunity of hearing stations in other States. A JUVENILE listener in a New South Wales country district recently addressed his letter solely with the words "Uncle Bass" and posted it. The letter duly arrived at Station BL. Sydney, where "Uncle Bass" officiates during the children’s sessions. The same thing coyld quite easily happen in the case of "Uncle Ernest," "Aunt Gwen," "Unele Toby," "Uncle Jeff," or "Big Brother Jack."