Trade Effort to Help Radio

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 43, 10 May 1929, Page 4

Trade Effort to Help Radio

WN this page we publish the text of a circular issued by the Wellington branch of the N.Z. Blectrical Federation. This circular, we wundetstand, has been sent to probinent individual _ listeners, ‘ " radio societies, and radio federations throughout the country. Copies have been forwarded to us by some of the recipients, as they considered the proposal so important as to warrant our being informed. The proposal certainly is an important one and worthy of discussion in its bearing upon the interests of listeners. In so far as it marks an effort on the part of the trade to secure the best possible organisation of radio in New Zealand, we, welcome it and wish to assure the federation from the outset that the "Radio Record" is concerned to help every movement, from whatever source it springs, calculated to genuinely benefit radio. | The circular, however, if it means anything at all in its present form, will be taken to mean that in the view of the federation-(1) The programmes in themselves are unsatisfactory; (2) the transmissions of the YA stations are technically unsatisfactory ; and (3) that complaints regarding these two points, when made to the Broadcasting Company by the federation, have been invariably shelved, These are important and far-reach-ing statements, which we, as a radio newspaper specifically concerned with interests of our readers, may fitly investigate. The first two points may be discussed by ourselves on the basis of general knowledge. The third point is referable to the party principally coneerned, viz., the Radio Broadcasting Company, whose statement is appended later in this article.

Quality of Programmes. Ak the programmes of the YA stations unsatisfactory? Listeners themselves are the best judges’ of that. From the outset the columns of the "Radio Record" have been open to listeners for the expression of praise or blame on all aspects of the radio ser-. vice. Readers will remember that in ATE TT EEE

our early days the volume of letters received by us and published in our Mail Bag Corner was considerable. A great many of those letters eighteen mouths or so ago made complaint of the quality of programmes submitted and contained suggestions where improvement might be effected. The vast majority of those suggestions, where possible, have been adopted. Apar from that source, the company has on its own initiative consistently striven to better the programmes given from all stations. As a result of this continuous effort, the standard of pro-

grammes available to-day is, we feel, higher than ever, it has been in the past. The best possible use would seem to be made of the talent available, supplemented by judicious incorporation of world masterpieces provided by gramophone records. Visiting artists, wherever possible, have been induced to appear before the microTTT

phone, the latest being Miss Harrhy, the eminent Welsh singer-composer, whose broadcasts have been appreciated from one end of New Zealand to the other. The result of the steady improvement in programme quality is evidenced in the marked decline of letters of complaint received by ourselves from listeners Of recent months this decline has been most pronounced, so that listeners would seem to be tolerably satisfied with the quality of programmes available. At the last meeting of the Wellington Radio Society, the fact that its meetings were poorly attended wa attributed to one thing only, viz., that listeners were getting what they wanted and did not need to make complaints regarding programmes, "Give them: rotten programmes, and we shall soon have our meeting fully attended," was the remark of the chairman. Again, there is the testimony of Mr. J. H. Owen, ex-president of the Wellington Amateur Radio Society, who left New Zealand a critic and returned, after experience abroad, a convert to the high general average under our conditions, of the service provided. And, finally, what of the distinctly good response in the renewal of licenses? Do these figures indicate dissatisfaction? W!TH, this knowledge available to us, we confess to experiencing surprise on reading the federation’s circular that "numerous complaints had been received as to the programmes broadcast." Our curiosity excited,. we rang the secretary of this body to ask the number of complaints received.

"About thirty," was the prompt reply, We asked whether these had been received in writing or verbally. The answer was "Some of both." We then asked whether these complaints had been passed on in writing to the company, our object being to find whether the company had been remiss. in attending to complaints placed before it by the federation. To this question we were refused exact answer, although it was indicated that some of the complaints had been passed 4 in writing and some by word of ma&uth to the director of the local station:* The real point, however, is this: Are the programmes being provided satisfactory to the general body of listeners? That is a question which can be answered only by the listeners themselves, and we specificaly invite listeners to express their views on the question. Our inquiry is directed only to ascertaining the facts, the listeners may write us perfectly freely and frankly on the point. YA Transmissions. HE second point made by the circular has teference to the quality of YA transmissions: Are these rightly the subject of numerous complaints? This is a technical matter, upon which technical evidence should be submitted. During the passage of the transmitter for Station 2YB fro Christchurch to New Plymouth, opportunity was taken of its stay in Wellington to broadcast simultaneously with 2YA. The purpose of this dual transmission was to enable Wellington listeners to test their apparatus on a transmission of lower power than 2YA. Results showed definitely that the trouble-lay, not with the transmitter, but with the receiver. This does not mean that the receivers'in general use in Wellington are incapable of receiving Wellington properly, but that too much power is frequently used in them for near-by reception of such a powerful station. Almost invariably better results were secured: by valve users from 2YB than from 2YA, leading to the conclusion that to use one or two radio frequency valves within a close range of Wellington and then expect excellent reproduction, is unwise unless big power valves follow. In other words, the detector was generalky loaded. PROOF of this is available from a lecture given by Mr. W. M. Dawson, the technical expert of Phillips’ Lamps, Ltd. In a recent address to ~ the Wellington Radio Society he remarked to the effect that if people would only look to _ their sets and provide adequate (or correct) power with apparatus capable of handling the volume, there would be few complaints regarding the transmission of 2YA. A little previously

THE NEW ZEALAND ELECTRICAL FEDERATION Wellington. OFFICIAL LISTENDRS-IN, Dear Sir,"POR a considerable period the Radio Executive of this Federation has received numerous complaints with reference to the programmes broadcast and the transmission of YA stations. "When such instances have been submitted to the Company, the complaint has invariably been shelved, due to a large extent to a denial of the cireumstances based on evidence submitted by one of the Company’s official listeners. To overcome the difficulty, the Federation has decided to appoint official listeners, who will report direct to this office. "To enable these reports to be of a uniform character a special form is being prepared, and this is to be completed for one programme each week, preferably Tuesday or Thursday, whichever period is convenient. The executive directs me to ask whether you will undertake to act as the official listener for the ¥ederation in your district, and I shall be glad to receive your decision in the matter as early as possible." HAMMAN MNUNAMUUAU MUN MUMAN UTICA UMMM UMMM LIM MMMM

another authority made a similar remark when demonstrating with a receiver that was capable of handling* the volume. At the meeting where these views were expressed those present all admitted that they were satisfied that the transmission from 2YA was as perfect as technical skill could make it, and that such dissatisfaction as obtained as attributable to individual sets. Listeners on this point must realise that with so powerful a station as 2YA-made powerful for the specific purpose of reaching distancethose who are at point-blank range must make provision accordingly by cutting down the amplification stages, particularly the radio frequency, of their receivers.Shelved Complaint™ A§ specific information is not available to us directly from the Kederation as to complaints having been passed in writing to the Broadcasting Company and there shelved by them, we referred this point to the general manager of the Radio Broadcasting Company. In reply, Mr. Harris says :- "We find by reference to the files ‘that the Radio Broadcasting Company for the last twelve months has received only three letters from the federation covering complaints dated September 1, 1928, November 10, 1928, and November 29, 1928, two of which were replied to the day following the receipt of letter, and the third within ten days, having been forwarded through the station director at Wellington and then , referred pack for further comment by this office. It is therefore incorrect to .. say that complaints have been invariably shelved or even occasionally shelved. In every case matters raised by the federation, either verbally or written, have been given the closest attention bv the company. "Tt appears superfluous for us to reiterate that it is the constant aim of the company to maintain its stations at the highest possible efficiency, and no trouble or expense has been spared to keep the closest observation on 2YA particularly. We have invested in this station some £30,000, and it is only human nature, in addition to our recognised responsibility to listeners, to see that the efficiency of the station is maintained at the highest. Members of the federation can rest assured that no suggestion forwarded is shelved, but each and every complaint or remark concerning a complaint is thoroughlv investigated, with a view to im7eediate attention if necessary. "here is, however, no need for lis-b-ners to remind us that relays are faulty, that some of the apparatus is out of order, that announcing has been cut short or a substitution made on our programme, or an artist is not up to standard or too near or too far away from the microphone, as all these matters are carefully checked and rechecked during operation and. logged for explanation and immediate attention. In fact, if we were to publish the procedure which we go through in endeavouring to maintain the efficiency of our stations, and also the detailed instructions which each member of the staff must rigidly adhere to, we would probably be criticised for being too particular. » "The Radio Broadcasting Company has long recognised the value of close co-operation with listeners, and it will be remembered only a year ago itself instituted the system of appointing in each district throughout the country honorary official listeners, The purpose

of this organisation then built up was that these listeners, chosen for their general standing and knowledge of radio, and because the apparatus they possessed entitled them to express competent opinions upon reception, was to provide a medium of contact with the general body of listeners and enable the company to be promptly informed of any deficiencies in transmission, or receive any suggestions for the betterment of programmes. This organisation has proved very valuable. The listeners have co-operated thoroughly with the company in many tests of which the outside public have known nothing. The results of those tests have benefited listeners with steady improvements. These listeners have shown themselves to be well chosen and competent. They have been quite frank in their reports, and enabled the Radio Broadeasting Company to secure a. valuable bird’s-eye view of the general situation. Complaints have been received rarely from "these official listeners, but in every case of direct complaint effort at rectification has been made and many suggestions put forward by listeners haye been adopted. We cannot claim perfection, put we do claim an honest cooperative effort to achieve the best standard possible." Position Summarised. yy the foregoing matter we have given the evidence available to us on each of the three points mentioned by the Federation. If the Federation feels that the establishment by it of a duplicate organisation of unofficial listeners, as a check upon the company’s official listeners, will be of value to the general cause of radio, no one has a right to say them nay. So far as the "Radio Record" is concerned, we will gladly publish any complaint made by the Federation or anyone else the betterment of which is likely to be -efit radio. We are at one with the Federation in desiring the fullest possible efficiency of the New Zealand radio service. We may be permitted, ‘however, to question the wisdom of disturbing propaganda being launched at the present time, when it is to the interests of all listeners to secure a large volume of licenses, old and new. If such propaganda checks the expansion of radio it is in reality a hostile move against the best clients of the trade, the existing listeners. On the facis available to us, we think the view is sound that the programme ‘vice has steadily improved until, while not yet perfect, good use is being made of the talent available in the Dominion. A spirit of enterprise is also being shown in expanding the service wherever possible. The hours of service from three stations have averaged double those called for in the company’s agreement. 4YA has been lifted recently on to an expanded service. A record long-distance relay has just proved suecessful between 2YA and i1YA, opening up possibility of programme diversification for the benefit of crystal users in both centres. In point of actual fact, it may be questioned whether at the present time when its revenue has fallen very considerably because of the inevitable drop caused by all licenses terminating at. March 31, the companly is _ not running a risk in expanding at the rate it is. Last year it spent the whole of its revenue, and more, in its endeavour to supply the maximum service, and in the circumstances listeners

will no doubt appreciate the extra fare now being offered in longer hours and the new dinner session. We Offer Co-operation. AS indicated earlier, we are quite prepared to extend every assistance to the Wlectrical Federation in wise effort to advance the real cause of radio in New Zealand. We would suggest, however, that this cause is most likely to be advanced by cooperation and reasonable consideration. Dealers may be very keen to have extended hours for purposes of demonstration, and may feel justified in collecting material for possible political action, in advocacy of "B" class stations to secure wider hours of daylight operation for demonstration purposes ; but what. the listener, who after all provides the main funds for the radio service, is primarily concerned in, is steadily-improved and expanding programme service. While the company would doubtless like to expand daylight operations, it must weigh their cost as against the investment of the money in direct service for listeners. In that field it is our view, entertained quite honestly, that the company has done, and is doing, tolerably well. If there is a general body of opinion to the contrary entertained by listeners, we would be only too willing to hear of it. Our columns are open to every honest criticism. We have

no desire to eulogise or defend the company. All that is desired is fair play and honest treatment.