Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 49, 21 June 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 10382, Wellington.

News from 2YA. I CONSIDER the news from 2YA practically nil. The real important news is kept back, and we read whole columns of matter which could keep till the daily arrives, and much of, which is unsuitable for the air, requiring careful reading, and often rereading. We get also three or four prices from different firms, all prices in complete agreement, and from 1YA we get prices of fat stock from three or four firms, and again practically the same prices. The report of sales of stock at Johnsonville, given by 2YA on Thursday evening should satisfy any ordinary farmer or dealer. Eiving 200 miles from Wellington, we do not feel like making a special trip to-that city to attend a Radio Society meeting to protest against any ridiculous motion someone may choose to move, 2YA ‘broadcasts football matches about 50 hours in one year, and I presume the great. majority of city listeners, and 90 per cent. of country enthusiasts, will have something to say, if these hours are lessened. If the antiquated few who carried the motion would like more jazz and light musie let a two hours breakfast session be started. I consider the concluding remark, "For the present, good evening, or good afternoon, everybody" preferable to the "drawing-room"

thank you.-

D.

M.

I HAVE noticed during this last few weeks that the Australian stations have been broadcasting a good programme of old-time music and songs. I would like to suggest that the YA’s do the same. I am sure we all appreciate old-time songs. I note in your last "Record" that the Shannon enthusiasts seem to want a special foxtrot programme while they are dining. Personally I think your dinner music session is first-class. The Shannonites could get plenty of foxtrots from 2BL or 2FC if they don’t like their own stations. On Wednesday, the 12th instant, I tuned in to 8YA just before 8 p.m. to wait for the chimes, and I was surprised to hear a song, "Old Folks at Home," it sounded like a quartet. Was this 3YA?-Satisfied (Westport). --

Delay in Presenting "Caractacus." CORRESPONDENT in the last issue of the "Radio Record" complained about the delay which occurred when 38YA_ broadcast "Caractacus." This was a public performance given in the Christchurch Municipal Theatre by the Royal Christchurch Musical Society under its new conductor, Mr. W. H. Dixon. The twenty minutes’ delay which ensued before the performance commenced was due to the fact that the ushers required that time to: find seating accommodation for an audience which crowded out,the theatre. Altered Programmes. way doesn’t the announcer state the reason when it is not possible for an item that is put in the programme

to be sung or played.-

E.

Morris

Dune-

din

[Any one of a thousand small mishaps possible may occur, such as "Boat late, record not arrived," "Mrs. Grundy has had to return to a sick mother." Listeners are not interested and do not seek such trivialities. When of intportance some announcement is made. -HEd.] The Musical Menu. I WAS very surprised and amused at the reason you advanced ‘to the question, "Why does the Company not give us a few more dance numbers" in the dinner session. I suppose ‘the Company’s next move will be to reduce the dinner session to half an hour so that we will not linger over our tea and be tempted to eat too much, because the "medical fraternity" say it is very harmful to eat to excess. We had the set going to-night, Wellington’s popular night, mind you, and endured it till somebody ‘started to sing a piece of grand uproar (opera), then at the earnest request of everyone at the table I went to the set and switched it off. Please give us-a few snappy jazz numbers, but for heaven’s sake let them be popular ones. I do not know who has been drawing up the programmes lately, but he seems to have.as much idea of what is popular as the conductor of a symphony orchestra. Can you tell:me why the

-_- linner music starts with the crash of the Wellington clock as a background, and why the announcer butts into the musie with the station call instead of In between items? I might say in closing, your sports service is great.-

HOPEFUL

(N.D.P.).

Continuance of Football. HAVE just been talking to several of the local listeners here, and they are all strongly in favour of a continuance of the relay of matches. Situated as we are in the backblocks, we all look forward to the Saturday afternoons and their most excellent descriptions of all the important matches in the big centres, which is much more interesting than just listening to the results at night. I would also like to take this opportunity of expressing our keen: interest in Mr, McKenzie’s lectures on the laws of Rugby. Trusting that your station will still continue to \broadcast football and other sports.-

L. C.

ARTHUR

(Motu).

May Fair Relays. yN your issue ef May 31 I noticed a letter from one ‘Diogenes" (Cromwell) re "Southland Radio." 1 hasten to congratulate him on a really fine: attempt at humour. . By fine I infer the idea of subtlety. At a first reading one is inclined to think that he means what he says. The obvious: ridiculousness of his assertion that bad reception in Southland is due to poor aerials leads one to believe that he is indulging in a piece of sarcasm. In other words, he is merely echoing

"there is nothing wrong with our service, your receiver must be at fault." There is also a letter from "Disgusted" (Invercargill) re May Fair relay. At the time in question I was in Timaru and can state that 4YA is received there just as indifferently as in the south, which shows that it is not the location but-the station that is at fault. Strong comments were made by many of the leading radio men I had an opportunity of conversing with on the paucity of preparation eévidenced by 3YA’s attempt-at relaying. the May Fair. Why. the station did not do its experimenting during. the day or even in the 20 minutes available between the finish of the news session and 8 o’clock. of that evening is past all understanding. No reference was made in the "Radio Record" to the failure of the relay. It stated that the Mair Fair "was successfully relayed by 4YA and sometimes by 3YA," thus giving the impression that it was a success from both stations. In fairness to 4YA I must state that the relay itself was handled excellently, but the modulation and volume of the ‘station defied any .pretence on the listeners’ part at good reception. 4YA has decreased in volume since it has shifted to its new location. The old trouble of blasting has arisen again. The trouble does not appear to be due to over-modulation . but to the inability of the amplifier tubes to carry the load. The sooner the new station arrives the better. ‘Radio Broadcasting Company officials have been taxing their brains as to why Australia has such a large proportion of listeners. The difference

may be indexed one of service. New Zealand stations at the end of the news session close down until 8 o’clock, The Australians go right until the clock chimes. As an example, on Thursday, May 30, 2FC finished their news session at about 7.50 and immediately commenced a short musical programme. At one minute to eight an item finished, but the announcer said, "While waiting for the clock we will commence a pianoforte solo by Grainger." That is what I call service. The programmes from the New Zealand stations are generally more enjoyable, however. . There is no doubt that the New Zealand stations are technically superior to the Australian, who do not bring the bass notes through sufficiently to give that roundness of tone essential to realistic reproduction. The only exceptions are 4QG and 3DB. I do not agree with "Disgusted" regarding gramophone items. They are more acceptable than. some of the would-be artists. The type of music in the dinner session appears to be meeting with approval, but why "Tacet"? I hope a quartet will never be inflicted upon us as suggested by a ‘correspondent. Listening to a quartet would soon become monotonous, as such a combination is totally unable to give that variation in rendition required by the véry nature of a majority of compositions.-"SHIELDHD GRID" (Invercargill). {Much of what difficulty occurred over the May Fair relay was due to lack of organisation in connection with the fair, which was not attributable to

either 3YA or 4YA. Our correspondent}. ean ascertain the facts perhaps fro the fair officials in Invercargill-_Hd Take a Choice. I NOTICE several Jetters in the "Mail Bag" referring to the volume of 2YA. I find the power the same. Ever since the gale blew down the aerial at 2YA we have noticed loss of power, We appreciate the programmes, and relays, but it seems some people are never satisfied. Some wanted dinner music, and got it; now some do not want it. Well, let them tune in to the other stations from 6 to 7. If they do not like the dinner music, perhaps the children’s session will help. I send my thanks to the management and good wishes to Mr. Announcer, 2YA, also to the "Radio Record."-"R@B-PURI" Go and Help the Curate. if HAVE noticed recently several complaints concerning the monopoly given football on Saturday afternoons, and I wish on the other hand to congratulate the Broadcasting ‘Company for seizing these opportunities of broadcasting sporting events. Compared with Australia, I consider there is a dearth of sporting events suitable for broadcasting in New Zealand, and no opportunity should be missed of broadcasting the high-class Rugby football that is played in the cities on Saturday afternoons. The splendid word-pictures painted by the capable announcers at. these football matches eannot fail to enthrall everyone except those ignorant of New Zealand’s na / tional pastime, who, perhaps, when is said and done, are those loudest i condemnation. "Hdenite" may be quite right in that only 10 per cent. listen to football in his district on Saturday afternoons, the other 90 per cént., I am game to wager, are actually at the match, either playing or looking on, according to their respective ability. So, growlers, hands off the Broadcasting Company’s organisation. Turn off the set for an hour or two, and go and help the curate decorate the church, or something. Remember we can all find something in broadcasting that we

could willingly dispense- with:

H.

M.

(Okauia

Pure Selfishness. . N several of the later issues of the "Record," there have been protests against the broadcasting of football matches on Saturdays. Now, to my way of thinking, these protests only denote pure selfishness. Music lovers surely get their money’s worth throughout the week. There are seven in the week, and on every day expt one there is music on the air, so surely one afternoon can be spared to us football. enthusiasts. Football is the national game of New Zealand, and I feel sure if a vote were taken on the subject that football would win. As to the rest of the programmes there are often items and whole programmes that I do not care for, but unlike the people who don’t want football I am not complaining. I think the R.B.C. split up their offerings in a very créditable manner, and anyone who is not satisfied must be pretty hard to please. Just; a word or two for Mr. Announcer av’ 2YA. We are all agreed here. that he is absolutely the best ever, and on the rare occasions when he is absent from the "mike" we feel as though something were: wrong.-‘NO COMPLAINTS" (Waverley).