Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 35, 15 March 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 Editor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

A Little Appreciation. JN renewing his subscription a correspondent writes:-Needless to say. we look forward to our copy. ‘Without the "Record" one feels absolutely lost as regards what is on the air. We are away from the hurleyburley of city life, and daily newspaperg are out of the question. I am one of the official listeners, and I find it very interesting work, especially as I am a keen experimenter. I built a "Record" shortwave set, and results ‘have been very satisfactory. I have also made broadcast coils for this set, and to-night 2YA is roaring in at full volume-in fact, I have had to change over to large loudspeaker, and almost shut off A battery current to valves. (This is unwise. Try a variable resistance 0-10,000 ohms across aerial and earth.Technical Ed.) Considering that we are 450 miles airline from 2YA this speaks well for "Record" set. Of course, we are right on the coast, and waves have mostly the Tasman Sea to cross with the exception of alongside Egmont and over the Wellington hills. All subscribers should now be more than satisfied with the ‘"Record’everyone is catered for under separate

headings.-

H.W.

Y.

» North Auckland.

Letter Received by Maori Lecturer. id st following is a letter received by Hare Hongi, Esq., from Wdmund Bostock, of s.s. Northumberland, Port Lyttelton, and should be of interest to all readers :- "It was with great pleasure and profit that I listened on the wireless to your lecturettes upon the Maori, his origin ‘and language. I was reminded of like imagery and profound insight in the Welsh tongue. "T am glad increasing public attention is being drawn to this wonderful race. May I suggest that stress be applied to the musical genius of the race, and an attempt be seriously made to preserve and revive the old folk-songs, with (if I may judge from the few examples I have heard) their wonderful ryhthmie movement and melody. Much uld be done in our schools, and from our broadcasting stations, reserving a place for them in every programme. The negro plantation song and dance has captured America; it has invaded Australia, and is not unknown in New Zealand. Is it impossible to achieve like results for the Maori in his native land? He deserves its t& is worth at-

tempting. New Zealand would be richer for it. "Wishing you great success in your public addresses, that they may be fruitful, especially among the students of the Dominion." Altering of Programmes. AM a= subscriber to the "Radio Record," and understand that the programmes published therein are the official ones for the four stations. A considerable number of the items are gramophone records which I appreciate very much. ‘They are in many cases an improvement upon the talent that is available in New Zealand. The most annoying part is that when tuning in to a station to hear a record that is on the programme it has been changed to something else. This I contend is not fair to the listener. To-night, the 6th instant, 4YA has put on so far two records which are not on the official programme. Undoubtedly it is very hard to please all listeners, but I contend that if an item on a programme

is not to that listener’s liking he is perfectly justified in tuning in to another station and getting what he expects to find on the programme at the time published. I have in mind that recently 1YA put over during an evening’s performance not one of the records as advertised in the "Radio Record." Personally I canLot see any excuse for the chopping and changing of records. The compiling of programmes must entail a considerable amount of time and expense which comes out of listeners’ fees and if the stations cannot put on the records as advertised, the compiling of programmes could be dispensed with and run the programmes a la Rafferty’s Rules. This is a matter I feel sure the company can without any.trouble put right, it would I am sure be appreciated by listeners, and would also show that the company is making an honest endeavour to please those interested in gramophone record radio. Trusting my constructive criticism and "tactful persistence" will be appreciated and wishing the company every success.-

H.F.

B.

(Auckland).