Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 26, 11 January 1929, Page 30

Auckland Notes

A UCKLANDERS cannot complain of the service which has been given them over the air during the holidays. All tastes were thoroughly and efficiently catered for. The main interest, of course, centred in the

a seven days’ racing carnival, which, despite the restrictions so strangely imposed by the Racing and Trotting Conferences, was handled expeditiously by the officials at 1YA. In the. rain of the earlier days they must have been working under tremendous disadvantages, yet they "got there’ every time, and though the announcer was unable to give much in the way of detail, he "produced the goods" as far as results were concerned, so that the whole province knew immediately after the horses passed the post what had won the Cup and the Derby. The whole of the racing broadcast again demonstrated how ridiculous and how futile too is the ban which has been placed upon this phase of broadcasting. The radio publie is now far too large and too influential to be ignored. They want descriptions, full and free, of sporting events, aud in almost all cases they are getting them. The half measures that circumstances enforce in connection with gallops and trots surely cannot last much longer, ME. J. BALL, of the headquarters staff of the Radio Broadcasting Company, is at present in. Auckland, and his efforts in several directions should be all to the benefit of local listeners. It is probable that, as the result of his visit, still more interest will be galvanised into Auckland programmes and transmissions. On several occasions Mr. Ball took his place at the 1YA microphone, his cheery and pleasing voice being at once recognised by those who are accustomed to tune in Wellington. Mr. Ball is confident of a big accession to the ranks of listeners after March 31 next, and is seeing that nothing is left undone to assist the movement for a big increase in licenses, which naturally will benefit every individual who owns a set. TPHURE was a cheeriness about the Old-New Year programme from 1YA that put everybody in good spirits for the approach of the first minute of 1929, A breezy description of street scenes in Auckland was in progress, and listeners by the thousand were awaiting the ferry clock chimes which would foretell the dawn of the New Year. Unfortunately a microphone fault developed in the final minute of 1928 and the chimes were missed. but the studio quickly stepped into the breach, and the countryside knew from its clock and the voice of the an- nouncer that 1928, a year of great radio achievements, was dead. ONE requires to travel far away from civilisation to realise the full benc‘:..s which radio brings to those who are far removed from city life. Numbers of holidav-makers were gathered at the Bay of Islands for the Christmas season, but radio receivers were few and scattered. Still, they were not too scattered to provide with the latest news for all who were so "uuxious to hear it. Yachtsmen rowed ashore to inquire at a boarding-house, up to date because it had an aerial. what had won the Cup. One small party came right across thc bay, through wind and rain, also on the same quest. The fortunate yner of the set was able to gratify their curiosity and to convincé them that radio to-day is no luxury and no plaything. WitH the uppearance of a new quartet party, the presentation of a debate by university students, more

operatic gems, and a varied programme by the orchestra, next week’s offerings from 1YA are a good augury of what will be forthcoming during 1929. Every week brings something new into our programme, and each new effort marks a further step forward, vr