Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 31, 15 February 1929, Page 25

Our Mail Bag

Will correspondents please practice brevity, as heavy demands are now made on space, All letters must be signed and address given as proof of genuineness; noms de plume for publication are permitted. Address correspondence Hditor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

To Suit the Views of Listeners. ITH reference to arguments re B class stations receiving a portion of the revenue derived from license fees, I maintain that if ‘the B stations put over programmes equal to the YA stations, then they certainly deserve support. Your contention is that the more money the main stations receive the better programmes they can provide. What do you mean by beiter programmes? If you mean higherpaid artists I agree with you, but if you mean more popular items, then I seriously doubt it. I was listening to a programme from 2ZM the other evening, and in my opinion it was a better programme than any 1YA has put over for months. Another instance is the programme given by Begg and Co., broadcast by 2YA. This was one of the best I have listened to, yet I understand the artists were members of the firm. In a review of the past year, one contributor to the "Record" stated that there was too much classical music. I would suggest the following plan to find if this is so: Give a list of the different classes of items put over by the stations, such as humour, elocution, orchestral, guitar music, etc., and ask listeners to give the different classes marks in their order of popularity. This is something like your recent competition, but here is the difference. Your competition really resulted in placing the items in order of popularity rather than showing which types of music were preferred. For instance, the vocal gems’ number received few votes because the item was unknown. However, the main point is: were this competition carried out would the Broadcasting Company abide by the decision of the listeners cr would the company ignore it? Competitions or rather referenda of this kind are useless unless the decisions are carried out. In conclusion, I say either make sure the YA’s are giving entire satisfaction or give the B sta-

tions some support.-

NORTHLAND

ER

(Whangarei).

Southland’s Trouble. CONGRATULATIONS to the company for the excellent programme. They show their popularity by the number of licenses issued, but why the few from Southland? Is it that they are Scotch, or have no money? I think not. Personally I believe that if the company put in, say, a 1000-watt station, they would treble those licenses in a very short time-the service must be at fault. I know that if it were not for 2YA I wouldn’t be bothered with radio, and I know several of the same mind, and soit is no

doubt with Southland.-

HAWERA

Afternoon Sessions Appreciated. WAS very surprised to read ina letter signed "L.G. (Wellington)," that the afternoon session was very little availed of. This is absolutely wrong, so far as a number of your country listeners are concerned. In the back country, where marketing and much visiting (which is the way

housewives in town spend their afternoons according to the letter referred to), is out of the question. It is just lovely to turn on 2YA or any otherYA station, thus turning the afternoons into real happy hours instead of the dull ones they otherwise would be. No, we really cannot spare our afternoon session. The children’s session is also much enjoyed. It would be a shame to cut down the children’s hour. It would be a splendid thing for the pupils if the Government correspondence school, Wellington, if lessons were occasionally given over the air, and trust some day this mav be made

possible.-

E. E.

SHRIMPTON

(Spray

Point).

B Stations. I HAVE read much on the above subject, and in my opinion I think it a fair deal, if the B stations situated away from the YA’s, should receive, say, half of the licenses from crystal sets which are in operation in their respective districts, but that they should .be at least 50 watts, so that others outside the district where they are could derive some. music on their valve sets. Also, why should they not advertise for firms? The newspapers do. Personally I fail to see why wireless advertisements should make an article dearer. The firms: would sell more, and. of course. the same would

apply to newspapers.-

LISTENER

(Hawera’’).

G-0-0-0-0-0-d Night. HAVE often been tempted to write and voice my appreciation of the splendid programmes, at various times, put over the air by 2YA, but my object in doing so now is to tell you that after listening-in the other evening while the "Master Oscillator versus Crystal" test was on, we noticed a decided improvement in the clearness of that same gramaphone record number which they changed over to crystal control, We have a home-made crystal set using two pairs of ear-phones, and get 2YA remarkably well at all times. While writing, I should like to tell you how disappointed not only ourselves, but other "radio fans" here were that Miss Copplestone’s swim was not put over the air. We understood they were going to broadcast it. There are many popular artists whom we have not had the pleasure of hearing over the air for some time. The Petone Black and White Entertainers were out on their own, and we are eagerly looking forward to their next concert, which, we hope, will not be in the too-distant future. In ¢conclusion, I should like to say the announcer of 2YA deserves very many bouquets, not for his announcing alone but for the "stunning" G-0-0-0-0-0-d-nights he gives when closing down. Wishing the R.B.C. every success-ig-nore the @rowlers-and carry on your

good work.-

E. M.

McKENZIE

(Kai-

koura).