Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 47, 7 June 1929, Page 27

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.

Aa A Wonderful ; Change. I AM dropping you a line to let you know of the results I have: had from the linen diaphragm speaker. I built it quite easily. I made the frame of white pine, as it is easy to work with, The big diaphragm is 24in. gquare, the small one 8in. The linen is quite easy to stretch; in fact, the only difficulty I experienced was piercing the two holes without breaking a thread. Well, as to results, they are simply . wonderful. I used to hate trios before; the same with organ solos, but now it’s all changed. The bass notes are wonderful, an orchestra is gr@it; in fact, it is as good as any moving-coil speaker in my estimation. Trusting that this little note will encourage some other reader to build one

and enjoy the results.-

S.

Hill

(St.

Albans

A Different View. qN a letter to the "Radio Record" of the 31st inst., a person states that the programmes of 2YA lately have been a disgrace. On glancing through some past programmes I cannot find anything in them which is disgraceful. Also last Saturday night’s vaudeville fare was a very enjoyable one. One would think that this man has a new set of which the novelty is just beginning to wear off. He has only to read recent letters of appreciation of 2YA to point out how wrong he is. The dinner session has not proved ye great disappointment, but a great boon to all classes. All the old tunes which he gives as being repeated are pieces which any sound-minded listener delights in hearing more than once. Can the writer name a better waltz than "The Blue Danube"? This person also states that it is high time that the company gave listeners a good return for their money. I must remind him that a license costs thirty shillings at the beginning of the season and decreases as the year goes on, and thirty shillings is cheap for good entertainment. I would like to suggest to this man that he had better buy a gramophone in order that he may select his own programmes. He . would then find out that it costs more than thirty shillings per year to keep him in good entertainment. It is not to be expected that 2YA ean please everyone, especially the type of person who is always inclined to run a st the grain. In finishing I wish congratulate 2YA on their splendid programmes and also on their relay

from Masterton.-

Satisfied

(Wel-

lington ).

. Eating Dinner to Foxtrot Time. Wwe radio enthusiasts of Shannon wish to know whether you are catering for a select few or for the general public with the music supplied during the dinner-time session. The music is of a very mournful nature and not, I am sure, the class of entertainment that the majority would care to listen to while having dinner. In the country districts where most people have their dinner early and go to bed early, they close down rather than listen-in during that hour. It would not be so bad if you put on foxtrots, waltzes, etc., once v1 twice a week, but there seems no vari. ‘‘u.. from the mournful stuff..We are not all Beethovens, and therefore dv not understand the high-class music w.less we can beat time with our foot. Then again the tacet seems to be a waste of good juice. We sometimes sit five minutes waiting, often wondering hether a connection has broken or whether we are going to get any more. Surely the country districts, who do not have the same opportunities as the city folk, are worth considering, it is a big field for new members. Personally I do not see any improvement in the programmes than before the competition held about 12 months ago. Trusting you get your committee to-g-ther and put something on for the poor cow-cocky, who goes to bed early and gets up early in the morning.-

A. G.

Mason

(Shannon).

[Our friend may save his "juice" somewhat by noting that the dinner session is run on the basis of approximately ten minutes on and five minutc off. The purpose of the silence is to permit a little polite conversation in the course of the meal. Foxtrots are not recommended by the medical fraternity as an item on the menu, as mastication to this time conduces to ~ -spepsia.-Hd. ] Saturday Football. SINCHRELY hope 2YA will not entertain the resolution adopted by the Wellington Radio Society at their annual meeting on Monday last, that 2YA abstain from relaying descriptions * football matches on Saturday afternoons. It appears to me this society, ~ » do not represent the majority of listeners-in, want everything their own way. Fancy wanting to deprive hun- —

dreds of a reai pleasure by a paltry vote of 13 to 7. We get music five afternoons and six nights a week, and if that is not enough for the society

they ought to disband.-

T.

H.

Wyeth

(Petone).

Not Crying for the Moon. S a beginner I would like to express my views and appreciation of the programmes from the YA stations. Unlike your correspondent "Fed Up," I understand that what does not suit me may bring pleasure to others, this I’ tener appears to be "crying for the moon," and if given it would not be satisfied! The dinner session is a treat, and with slight improvements such as cutting out the station call and beating the clock to it would be excellent. The silence is.golc 1, and adds a charm and distinction to this session. 8YA is my favourite station, It seems to be most consistent with the most varied programmes, and little fading. 2YA seemed to come back with some of its old volume last Tuesday night, but slipped back the following evening, worse luck. In conclusion, I would like to ask why Brunswick recordings are not put over the air. These are equal to the world’s best, and would be a welcome asset to the present fine rec dings used. Again thanking you, I

remain ae satisfied listener.-

W.

L.

(Greenmeadows).

Dinner Musie. [THE dinner music from 2YA comes in quite well here on good receivers, and in numbers of homes there is doubtless a controversy as_ to whether father and mother’ should hear Wellington’s dinner programme or the children should enjoy Cinderella and the children’s hour from 1YA. Like some people in the south, the writer is of the opinion that the elimination of the announcements, except at the beginning and end of the dinner music session, would be an improvement. But isn’t there a regulation which prevents this being given effect to?-"Aucklander."-(Yes.-Hdi-tor.) Sundays Appreciated. ALLow me to express to all concerned my family’s appreciation of the programmes broadcast on Sunday afternoon from 2YA. After today’s concert we feel it would be ungrateful on our part to keep silent after such delightflul and satisfying music. I believe there must be thousands who feel the same about it and like myself intend to write, but put it off and then forget it. The children’s hour and the dinner music is also ap-preciated.-Wanganui. --

Sunday Concer! Wwe thoroughly enjoy the concerts, lectures, etc., which are broadcast and appreciate the improvements in the programmes during the past year. But is it possible to improve the quality of the concerts relayed on Sunday evening. I am aware that you have to cater for all tastes and am not asking for what might be termed high-brow music, but am sure that the majority of listeners-in would prefer good reeords from the studio to vandeville

items:

H. M.

Jenkins

(Blenheim) _

Power of 2YA. SINCE the storm some time ago, 2YA has seemed to have lost its former power; it seems almost as if it’s power. has been decreased from 5000 to 1000 watts. We live just midway between Auckland and Wellington, and 1YA comes in with almost the volume of 2YA, whereas before, 2YA had at least four times the volume of 1YA. This is particularly noticeable in daylight reception. We enjoy the dinner music very much and. greatly appreciate 2YA’s step forward. We think the Radio Broadcasting Company gives very good service indeed, although it is impossible to please everyone. We in the country would like more news and’

sports items.-

R. T.

Colthart

(hae

tihi

Band Musie for Auckland.

ONG may the foolish ones of the Auckland City Council have their way, and the privilege and the pleasure: of withholding their Municipal Band concerts from the country listeners, if meanwhile the Broadcasting Company w'll give us such fare as they relayed from Wellington. The Port Nicholson’ Band’s excellent concert on Sunday last was doubly enjoyable because of the fact that one felt that the best was procurable in spite of the Auckland Council. The council has turned me against its band, and I doubt whether TY would welcome it on the air if it

were available.-

A.E.

W.

(Hamilton).