H.B. Correspondent Claims Attention

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 25, 4 January 1929, Page 2

H.B. Correspondent Claims Attention

I WAS interested to see in this week’s issue of the "Record" the letter |, now being circularised among "B" class stations, and your comments ' on game. Well, I have been storing up a grouch against the R.B.O. { for some time, and your remarks have put the finishing touches to ic. k Here is how stations come in here now. Aussies, inaudible; 4YA, sel- } dom heard; 1YA and 8YA, heard occasionally above static and power noises; 2YA, plenty of volume in between fades, but, to put it mildly; i simply awful. The only station worth listening to at present is 2ZM, ‘ Gisborne, one of thosé terrible "B" stations. This great little station } is heard here every night it is on the air, with plenty of volume and remarkable tone, and can put 2YA in the shade any time. All of which leads to the qtiéstion under discussion: Should the "B" class stations derive some of the reventte? If the R.B.C. is providing adequate services in the districts wherein the "B" stations are situated, I say they should not derive revenue. But is the company doing this? Speaking as 4), Hawke’s Bay listener, I most emphatically say they are not! I wonder if the broadcasting directors have ever heard their star station in this’ district? TI think not. Have you, Mr. Editor? I cannot think it possible that you can have done so, for if you had, you would not have the audacity to say that the present stations are giving a satisfactory service. In fact, things are so bad here that the local radio society are considering erecting their own station and providing and paying for their own entertainment. Now, Mr. Hditor, do you consider we are} getting a fair deal during the summer months, when static drowns out the three smaller YA stations. We pay 30/+ a yéar for a broadcasting service and get mostly mush, fading and distortion, dnd then over and above this, if we want any enjoyment out of our réceivers we have to pay, for it ourselves. Don’t you think that under the circumstances the local station should be subsidised, seeing that the company does not seem to worry whether we get un efficient service or not? If they had the interests of the listener at heart a relay station would have been provided long ago. If they are not prepared to do this, they should subsidise th -"B" station that is prepared to fill the breach. With a good service the listeners in this locality could be easily doubled, but, even if a relay station brotight not one moré licénsé, the company owe it to the presen,

listeners.-

J.

L.

(Hastings).