Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 33, 1 March 1929, Page 26

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 Editor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

-- "4 erry Orchestra Practice. if Wet controversy surrounding the mysterious American station which is occasionally to be heard "heterodyning 1YA" with music between 7.15 and 8 p.m. during the news session, grows more thrilling week by week, in fact, the mystery of how the apple got into the dumpling is not a patch on it. May I suggest that in order to set all minds at rest and to save us hearing the same music twice over in one evening from 1YA’s excellent orchestra, that they should only try it over in the next room at such times as the station is not on the air. Ootherwise, no com-

plaints !-

G.

FRASER

(Ohura).

Maori Language and Pronunciation. T was very interesting to listen-in to Mr. Hare Hongi’s pronunciation and so clearly expressed explanations of the meanings and the myths stored up in Maori places and names. It must have surprised some to hear Paraparaumu properly pronounced, for we are all accustomed to hearing Pakehas pronouncing it Parapa-rum. Then there is Rongotai (near Lyall Bay, Wellington), always pronounced as jWrong-go-tie or Rong-go-tai. It is hoped that teachers of languages will listen-in to a master like Hare Hongi, who so clearly renders in English the interpretation and also gives us the true Maori pronunciations. The Natives of our country are now dying out, and the language and customs will die out with them, unless we do something to preserve these. In the coming years only highly educated scholars and research students will be able to discuss this so beautiful and mellifiuent language, and the pity of it! The Radio Broadcasting Company is to be congratulated on securing the services of one who is so widely recognised as being a scholar in and authority on, the Maori language, life and customs. We would appreciate it very much if all Pakehas were to pronounce the beautiful words Kia Ora in a phonetic

manner, instead of mutilating it, as commonly and wrongly pronounced Key-Ohra and Kai-Ohra. Wishing your readers those who are interested in the study of the Maori

race the best of luck-

RORE

JOS

EPHS

(Maniapoto Tribe, Te Kuiti).

Shakespearean Relay Appreciated. [TN enclosing postal note for the "Radio Record," I wish to express my appreciation of the programmes, especially from 4YA and 2YA. ~ I consider that the Dunedin programmes are of a very high order and if fewer gramophone items were included, exeellent. 4YA is always to the fore in long-distance transmissions and _ rebroadcasts and from my point of view, gives a very satisfactory service. I wish to congratulate the management of 2YA on the success of the relay of the "Merry Wives of Windsor." Reception was well-nigh perfect here, anid the only fault was that the relays were too short. Let us hope a similar relay may be arranged from 4YA when Mr. Wilkie’s company is here. It is by such special attractions that new listeners are found and I am sure the results would amply warrant the cost of the relay. Trusting the Radio Broadcasting Company will do its best

to arrange a relay for 4YA.-

G. F.

HALL

(Dunedin).

Widen the Service. I NOTE that the Postmaster-General has decided that there shall be no B grade stations, and this plainly indicates that the Government considers the present service in terms of number of the YA stations the most satis-

factory arrangement. With the exception of 2YA the service-range of the YA stations is totally inadequate for the needs of this country, and development is by far too slow. It is to the advantage of both the Government and the Broadcasting Company that this service be improved, and that immediately. Listeners’ licenses appear to be gradually increasing in numbers, and if the authorities are going to wait until they have saved enough cash before they extend the service, then heaven knows when New Zealand will get a really satisfactory radio service. It is apparent that the licenses taken out in the four radio districts are more or less in proportion to the power ratings of the stations in those districts, and if a 5kw. plant was installed in each large centre, the licenses would double in number within the first year following the change due to the vastly

increased service range:

COMMON

COUNTRY LISTENER

Set Working When Disconnected. THINK Mr. R. O. Boyens, of Invercargill, will find that when he has his ’phones or speaker disconnected the sounds he talks of are probably coming from the L.F. choke, which when in use has a powerful magnetic field caused by the current flowing through it. Lately, one or two of the bolts, or screws, may have loosened a little and the magnetic strains "pulled" and "nushed" at the then laminated core. The core, too, may have loosened, perhaps ever so slightly, but enough to move backwards and forwards as the magnetism attracts and repels. In effect, a "diaphragm" is formed responding to the plate current and setting up sound waves in the same manner as a

loudspeaker:

R. J.

CHILDS

(Welling-

ton).

Crystal V. Oscillator. RE the test last night from 2YA, Crystal v. Master Oscillator. I would like to let you know how the reception was in my locality. The first part of the programme was perfect, the items being very distinct, with not one fading note, Mr. J. S. Webb in the play being particularly clear and distinct, every word coming out clearly, but after changing over to the master oscillator the programme was spoilt by short, spasmodic fading, when the voice was practically inaudible, but would come on again in a few seconds. Except for this fading, which continued through the latter half of the programme, the reception of the master oscillator was good, but the crystal cave a nerfect recention in everv wav.

CECIL

RIDLAND

Pairau: Otago

| Central).

A Reverse View. FOLLOWED your test of 2YA on erystal control and master oscillator control last Thursday. Master oscillator control was far ahead of the erystal control. The record was much clearer, and also the band, which was far sweeter. 2YA faded and distorted ( with both controls, but the fading and

a distortion cleared up far quicker ay oscillator tube control, due probably to the fact that on crystal control 2YA tunes sharper and takes longer for distortion periods to clear up. I think the fading is past 2YA control, and we will have to put up with it, as 2YA fades with both controls. Only master oscillator control always suited this district best. 2YA always was far sweeter and mellow here before crystal was adonted. for both afternoon and

evening sessions.-

A. R.

GARDINER

(Purua, Banks Peninsula)

Rebroadeasts Not Desired. THINK it is time 3YA stopped rebroadcasting 2YA’s transmission every other Saturday. Instead of gzetting the choice of two programme. #twe only have one, as both stations have the same on. The other two stations, 4YA and 1YA, are not worth bothering about on account of their heavy fading periods. I think it is done to save expenses. This is mine and _ several others’ opinion, as it must be a save not having any artists to pay at 3YA-only a set going to pick up 2YA. I do not see how it benefits crystal set users, as they must get a lot of distorted music, like last Saturday evening, when it was so bad that 3YA had to put on ‘records.

A.R.

G.