Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 39, 12 April 1929, Page 11

Auckland Notes

(By

Listener

NEW radio year has begun, and, from such particulars as can be gathered at this early stage it has begun. very well indeed locally. Just before aster the special staff at the Wellesley Street Post Office was almost snowed under by the avalanche of listeners. Matters were easier, but still brisk on Tuesday morning, and there was ample evidence that country listeners are licensing in large numbers. A small proportion of cancellations has been notified, but such is only natural, and there is no doubt that within a few weeks our district totals will be all that was anticipated of them, and will grow steadily as the winter advances. ‘The radio trade is quite brisk and there are numerous inquiries, particularly for electric sets, | which promise to be the general fashion with the majority of new listeners. [Ts re-broadcasting, 1YA put up what must be a New Zealand record on Saturday last. Twice, in the intervals between race descriptions, the -Auckland station "turned on" 2XAD, but both static and surging were so bad that the only thing a listener could say was that he had "heard America." Quite different were the results in the evening. KDKA was transmitting private messages of friends of the mem-’ bers of the Byrd expedition, and 1YA re-broadeast these in a manner that must have astounded many listeners. Every word was distinctly audible, and enthusiasts here shared the greetings to those now wintering in the far south. The whole effort was a most commendable one, but for interest it was quite eclipsed by what followed. Australian stations have been coming in with fine strength and clarity of late, and 2BL put over a fine account of the feather-weight contest between Grime and Leckie. 1YA quickly hopped in, found conditions excellent, and re-broadcast a story that thrilled and delighted tens of thousands. So well did the account come across that one listener rushed to his telephone at the end of a round and summoned nearby and unfortunately "setless" neighbours to come and hear the "serap." They came, and were almost as excited as the ringside spectators. It was a splendid advertisement of the utility of New Zealand broadeasting, and a tribute to the enterprise of 1YA.- A few years ago the remark, "Did you hear the fight?" would have sounded ridiculous, but it

was a remark that was on the lips of hundreds in trams and trains on Monday morning. . PROPOS of "good things" broadcast from our own station, the writer engaged a number of listeners whom he met re-licensing, in conversation, and, among other matters, the question cropped up as to what was the best local programme sent out by 1YA. Many memorable nights of entertainment were mentioned, even going back to the special concert put on when Mr. Prentice was in charge, but the unanimous opinion was that nothing could come up to a recent evén-ing-the occasion of the broadcast of "Outward Bound." On the air this drama gave wonderful thrills, and would even bear repetition. ANYONE who was not satisfied with all the New Zealand programmes given him on Monday evening last would be-well, words fail me. Tuned in three "YA’s" and enjoyed variety galore. Music, humour, speech, news, distress calls, and sporting de-scriptions-all were there for the hear-

ing. Auckianders followed with special interest the account of the Wellington motor-cycle events. The aecount of them was splendidly given, the announcer’s voice ringing clear and crisp in every syllable. It sounded very like Mr. Clive Drummond at the microphone. So keen is the concern of local radio fans over what has befallen the "Southern Cross" airmen that several local sets have been kept tuned almost continuously to Sydney during the past three evenings, their owners deadly anxious to hear that the gallant flyers have again got into touch with the world. At the time of writing Sydney advises no news, and ‘planes setting out on search expeditions.