Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 29, 1 February 1929, Page 8

Auckland Notes

(By

Listener

ME- PLUMMER, a member of the Musical and Dramatic Committee of 1YA, has aroused-much interest and no little comment by his suggestion that a 2s. levy be made upon all listeners, the money. thus raised to be used in subsidising musical and other socicties, who would thus be guaranteed against financial loss in allowing their performances to be relayed. The general opinion expressed here is that while there is much to be said in favour of Mr. Plummer’s proposal, its one serious drawback is to secure the assent of listeners to the levy, which would have to be compulsory upon all, and which, therefore, would require Government sanction. It is felt that Mr. Harris has ably followed up the original proposal by the announcement that the Broadcasting Company will consider the' whole situation and make definite proposals which will achieve the object in view without placing any further financial burden upon listeners. It is recognised that. there are many difficulties in the way of securing broadcasts of public performances, from the viewpoints of both the promoters and the broadcasters, but the determination of the company to tackle the problem in a thorough manner will doubtless find.a means of overcoming them. OLIDAY time for teachers has been responsible for a treat for local lis: teners this week. Mr. Norman Day, a schoolmaster at Tauranga, and his wife, who was well known in Auckland musi-

eal circles as Miss Cora Melvin, are spending a fortnight in Auckland, and their services have been secured for 1YA. Both are vocalists of note, and on Sunday evening, and again later in the week, they delighted their invisible audiences with excellently rendered solos and duets. yx laid itself out to give full prominence to the. exciting Plunket Shield cricket contest here this week, and it did the job to the entire satisfaction of all. Wach afternoon the station was on the air with a resume of the .morning’s. play, and periodic descriptions of the struggle as it progressed. In the early evening session a full description from the pen of Mr. Gordon Hutter was also given, so that

those who had no opportunity for daytime tuning were kept fully and breez- © ily informed of every incident. On relay, the station did full justice to the tense closing moments of one of the finest games ever witnessed at Eden Park. "THE initiative of our Musical and Dramatic Committee in offering prizes for locally-written radio plays and poems should bestir much of our literary talent into activity. The writer has come into contact with several who have studied the conditions laid down in the last issue of the "Reeord,"’ and whoare determined to try their ’prentice hands at radio dramatisation. The competition should attract numerouse entries, and listeners are sure to find additional attractiveness in radio plays that are New Zealand products and haye 2 New Zealand atmosphere. AST week the Salvation Army Band, under Adjutant Goffin, supplied a long-felt want in our programmes. Its selections on both evenings were most enjoyable, interspersed as they were with good vocal items. PrREAKISH atmospheric conditions have made distant tuning much of a lottery during the past few days, and there have been times when even 2YA could not be relied upon. Particulars of the Trentham race meeting, however, were heard clearly, though there was some disappointment at the delay in sending out results. Listeners are aware that while restrictions of broadcasting race meetings remain in force, they cannot expect the excellent service to which they were accustomed of yore.