Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 30, 8 February 1929, Page 7

Auckland Notes

(By

Listener

T° every station there is usually. a "bést night" in the week. At 1YA the palm myst lately be awarded to Tuesdays. Following its silent night, ~ the Auckland station has come on the air recently with several programmes of particularly high calibre, containing that spice of variety which makes them suitable to all tastes. On Tuesday last the entertainment broadcast was more than usually enjoyable. Particular refetence may.be made to the vocal gems supplied by Madame Cora Melvin and Mr. Norman Day, and to the pleasing contributions of the Bohemian Duo, who seein to have secured the knack of always hitting public taste with’ their tuneful melodies. UITE a nuniber of listenefs have ex‘pressed the opinion to the writer that, while the talks upon early New. Zealand and thé Maori are very interesting and well delivered, the subject itsélf is being worn rather threadbare. They would welcome a charige of matérial. N these summer evenings, when enjoyable reception is confined virtually to the local station, it is gratifying to notice the favoyrable. comparisons that are made between 1YA and other broadcasting stations. Our lécal fare, though there will always be some who grumble at it, will-stand comparison with the best supplied elsewhere in the Dominion. T has been suggested to the Minister of Education that the proposed "B" class broadcasting stations, for the sanctioning of which a cértain section of the community are agitating, could undertake educational broadcasts for Schools. This is a type of service which must come, but it must develop gradually, after due experiment, and one can see no more efficient source for experiment: than our own YA _ plant, which bas a remarkable daylight range in the province, If radio for schools is to come in.the Auckland district, it should be through the good: offices of 1YA. It is- known that the company 4nd. the staif are willing. to afford full facilities for any scheme which the educational authorities may advance. One fails to comprehend how other less powerful plants, worked under less experience, could undertake satisfactorily what already established broadeasting prepared to do, and, in its own part, e With assurance of success. HILDREN’S sessions twill be back into- their usual stride again next week, Thousands. who have missed their speakers or phones ‘during holidays at the seaside and in thé country will be eager to hear "Cinderella" -she of the charming ‘radio pérsonal-ity-and those delightful Uncles, some of whom, too, have been énjoying a deserved -holiday. Uncle Géorge and Uncle Tom will both havé appeared at the microphone again by . the time these notes are in print, and a warm welcome will have’ been accorded them. HE action of the 1YA Children’s Committee in applying the acmulated anonymous and other donations which have come.in to the studio to. such a worthy. object as the supplying of poor crippled ‘children with receiving sets. and paying the licensés thérefor, has earned its' due’ reward. Letters of appreciation and gratitude

from the afflictéd béeneficiariés have come to hand, and they are delightfully pathetic in. their childish — sineerity. After seeing the great boon which radio is to an invalid child of wealthy parents, and how keen an in‘terest this lad displays in all that eomes over the air, the writer is able to picture the benefits that will accrue to less favourably situated youngsters who have expressed their thanks to the 1XA Committee. UR Anniversary Day, a week later than that of Wellipgton province, gave the station a busy time in. supplying particulars of the many sports, racing, aquatic, cricket, and tennis, which eventuated here. We have had a new, and quite a brisk and’ pleasing announcer for thé past week, Mr. C, R. Straubel. whose voice is known. to . listeners throygh his participation jin radio debates; has been relieving Mr. Culford Bell for a few days, and, though naturally inexperienced, he: has been wonderfully successful . before the roidrophone, and his-voice has won him a host of friends unseen.