Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 48, 14 June 1929, Page 10

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.

Appeal to the Morse-Men. 8 there no way of stopping the interference caused by morse-key signalling during local broadcasting hours? I have a two-valve amplifier and crystal receiver, and the noise caused by a morse-key in my vicinity causes all music and speech to be distorted beyoud recognition. Some weeks back I wrote to the district radio inspector, who informed me the matter would be looked into, but the interference still goes on. I get this buzzing and tapping at all hours, Sundays and holidays included. I have an idea the. noise comes from the Mount Cook Barracks station, which is only a few hundred yards from me, and they are the culprits, the sooner they: show a little consideration the better I will be pleased. Thanking you and all concerned in the fine performances of 2YA (that is, of course, when I hear it between the buzz-z-z tap-tan-tap).-

FAIRPLAY

(Wellington).

Suggestions. I NOTE that in your issue of May 17 you state that your invitation to listeners "to complain" had only brought one reply. The truth is that there is very little nowadays to complain about, as far as valve-set owners are concerned, at all events, though a little more comedy would be acceptable. I also note that in this week’s paper there are complaints as to loss of volume, but this appears to me to be very slight and if anything rather an improvement, as 4QG and 2FC can now be tuned in without any background of distant music from Wellington. As regards 2YB reception here, 50 miles. and a clear run, the less said about it the better, although from Christchurch and Wellington it was perfect. The little B class stations of Gisborne, Christchurch, and Dunedin come in perfectly, and though 2YB’s wave is strong enough for anything. the voice is either loud and rough or fades into nothingness altogether. In

regard: to Auckland’s "Talks on New Zealand Manufactures," why should 2YA not go one better, and by means of the telephone take us through the various factories on a personally conducted tour, say, every Friday night? Why. not through the printing and editorial department of one of the. local newspapers befora its publication, or into the bowels of one of the mighty steamships at the avharf, the third or fourth engineer is usually a decent chap and would explain everything that the second steward could not tell you about. Then there are factories of all descriptions, butter factories, match factories, boot factories, beer breweries and soda-water factories and hosts of others who would not be averse to such a glorious free advertisement of their wares. What listeners want is an occasional change from the continual musical treats to which they are so accustomed. A one-act play by two characters alone is always a most happy variety in an evening’s entertainment. One thing in particular New Zealand can congratulate itself on, and that is the "children’s hour" at the various stations, that could searcely be improved on.-GEO. FRASER (Ohura). The Trial Match. AFTER listening to the broadcast today (June 3) from 2YA of the trial game for All Black honours I was awfully disappointed to find that the R.B.C. had not sent Mr. Allerdyce to Wellington to announce the game. I

do not know Mr. Allerdyce except "over the air," but we all know what a marvel he is at broadeasting a running description of a sporting event. The gentleman who announced the trial game lacks Mr. Allerdyce’s ability to follow the ball with a fast-detailed description of every player’s movements. Without any disrespect to the 2YA announcer of to-day, I might say that had Mr. Allerdyce been at the "mike" one would have been able at the conclusion of the game to practically select the team for Australia, Might I also suggest that at the commencement of the game the announcer give out the names of the players slowly enough for the listener to put them in their respective positions on paper, as it is then much easier to follow the ball. I do hope the Broadcasting Company can see their way clear to send their fine sporting announcer to special broadcasts of sporting events, as they used to do some two years ago. Thanking the company in anticipation.

FAIRLIE

[2YA’s customary announcer has been in hospital for some weeks, but is now back at the "mike" for sports events, etc.-Ed.] Dinner Sessions. J WISH to record my appreciation of the dinner music sessions from 2YA. The items are well chosen, but in my opinion are marred by what I would term an unnecessary announcement proclaiming 2YA, Wellington. If this is necessary, could it not be arranged to' have the announcement made: before the items Wishing the R.B.C. every

success.-

J.

T.

Is Two Hours Too Much? IGHT I voicé my opinion re the broadcasting of football matches for two hours on Saturdays? One complains of missing two whole hours of musie per week. Apparently these. music fiends and their associates have no consideration for those country folk who look forward to the two hours’ broadcasting on Saturdays.- As for the "droning-in" of the matches, well, if it is disliked by the fiend, the set ean always be switched off for, say, two whole hours per week. And if these music fiends took a little more interest in the game they would understand what those "two whole hours" every Saturday mean to we who naturally appreciate our national game. I suppose a keen follower of the game who lives way back should sit and listen to music week ta and week out through the selfishness of the music fiend? No, Sir, let ¢he fiend) switch off for those two heurs aad give the sporting man a chance te enjoy semething for his 80s. Wishing the B.C.

every success.-

D. E.

SMITH

(xowai

Bush).

Disgusted! ON: June 5, 3YA, Christchurch, announced that they would relay a concert from the Municipal Concert Hall, commencing at 8 p.m, From then

on until 8.20 all I could -hear was a continual unintelligible gabble. To my mind this shows a decided lack of: good management on the part of. the Radio Broadcasting Company. This lull in proceedings could have been filled in with gramophone selections, or the delay explained by the. announcer. The sooner the New Zealand Broadcasting Company take notice of the efficient way the Australian A stations are managed the more popular they will be with the New Zealand a

listeners.-

DISGUSTED

Any Humorists? UST a line, please, in appreciation of your witty response to Mr. Mason’s diatribe in the current issue. I think that this treatment would point out kindly and yet firmly that som listeners have been denied the powe of thought, For my own part, I am a constant listener, on the average, I suppose that the old set is run five nights:a week, and has been since 2YA. opened. I think that at the present time the company is doing its best. to strike the happy medium between the "jazz fiend" on the one hand and the "highbrow" on the. other, with the happy result that to a listener who is neither the programmes are .most' attractive. One point, however, could be improved, I think. The _ so-: called humour that we hear is frequently frightful. Are. there no humourists to bé obtained? It seems to me that the company would be doing a kindly act to listeners if it took up the matter and looked round, for some really good performers in this field. Apart from this, I can find no fault, and consider my 30s. a jolly

good investment.--

J.

HARVEY