Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 51, 5 July 1929, Page 12

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 HWditor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

Liven It Up. HE dinner music session you put on at 2YA is quite appreciated by eountry listeners, but I quite agree with A. G. Mason that it wants livening up a bit; and as for the five minutes’ interval. I would suggest that they who want a little polite conservatism, get up and turn the juice off when it suits them, as "tacet" is a little drier than the other music. Foping to see "tacet" eradicate sad the

dinner music livened up a bit,-

S.

B.

HALL.

Broadcast of Football Matches. WISH to support the protest of "Tdenite," Auckland, and C, Russell, Auckland, as written in "Our Mailbag" of May 31, against the broadeasting of football matches every Saturday afternoon. A fair estimate of the percentage of listeners on an average Saturday afternoon in winter is 75 per cent, women and children, and of these the majority want music not football. The children particularly like the afternoon music on Saturday and Sunday; in fact, it is their only opportunity of listening to a musical programme, as there is very little music in the children’s session, and now in winter, when these programmes would be more than ever appreciated, the service is spoilt by football broadcasts. Now, for football, in all codes, great games and good ‘sport, and from my experience the radio family is well represented in the erowds at the various games, for en-

thusiasts want to see the game, not stay home and listen to something of it; therefore, those who stay home are not very interested in football, so why spoil the afternoon for the women and children? I say give them music. I am not forgetting the inmates of our hospitals, ete., and those who are sick at home. I have had my share of experience in those circumstances, and upon a vote being taken in a hospital ward for men, music versus an ordinary club game of football, I am confident music would win. Music is beautiful to listen to. Football is beautiful to watch. I am not advocating the dropping of football altogether, but would like to suggest that only representative games, championship finals, trophy games, and such games of special interest be broadcast to give the sports who cannot go to the matches something worth while: then I think all would be getting a fair share of the Saturday afternoon broadcasts, Now, if the Broadcasting Company want to get the feeling of the licensed listeners on this subject, my suggestion

is this: invite the holders of licenses in the Auckland district to send in a posteard marked "I vote for music," or "I vote for football," by a given date, and I offer my experience and services as scrutineer to ascertain the result, This would cost the raido family a 3d, and the Broadcasting Com,pany nothing to get a satisfactory solu-

tion to the problem.-

R.F.

A.

(Devon-

port. )

Lectures for Constructors. QiR,-Might I suggest that, in view of the large number of set-con-structors who are interested in the latest radio apparatus, a series of weekly chats dealing with the latest radio developments be broadeast. ‘The chats could be divided in many ways as follows:-New circuits and their merits; the books in which constructural details could be found; recent developments in accessories, viz.; screengrid valves, ete.; and the latest books (a review of radio literature). Many of us living, as: we do, in small towns or in the country, have not the facilities of libraries and well-stocked magazine depots which are afforded the city listeners, and a move in the direction of these chats would, I am sure, be greatly appreciated. They should materially increase the interest of set-owners in the possibilities of their sets. thus helping to popularise radio:as a hobby in New Zealand, I have not heard of this being done before, but if not, it is no reason why New Zealand stations should not lead the way. Why not give it a trial and enclose a voting coupon in the "Radio Record" following the first lec-, ture, or ask readers what their ideas are of the new departure? Incidentally a voting coupon concerning the football and sport broadcasts; dinner music, ete, all on the one slip, might give the authorities some true conception of the general tastes of listeners. Hoping that you have the best of luck in your endeavours to make programmes really presentable, and trusting that you at least give the above ideas consideration.-I am, etce.,

PLEASED, BUT PROGRESSIVE.

Waimate.

(There exists a difficulty in obtaining suitable lecturers. However, the suggestion will receive attention.-Kd.)

The Salvation Army Broadeast. I TAKE this opportunity to congratu- ~ late the Broadcasting Company on the very fine r-lay of General Booth’s Memorial Service from the Town Hall on Sunday. The whole service came through with wonderful clarity, and

fs was very much appreciated.-

CON.

STANT LISTENER

(Feilding).

Give and Take. IR,-I am unable to diagnose the mysterious diseases of your correspondent, "Fed Up, and Then Some," in his letter of the 28th inst. I say, "give and take. Mother Barth will take care of the rest." TIllogical reasonings and faulty thinking are deadly enemies. Perhaps if "Fed Up,

and Then Some" took some of the cobwebs out of his household and burnt them in a furnace, I am sure he will find a gradual’ improvement in his sphere of thought and processes of thinking. I hope your correspondent, "Hed Up, and Then Some" will find in future happiness and contentment in trying to solve the psychology of 2YA Sunday programmes. The Salvation Army is morally and spiritually one of the greatest forces in the world for the uplifting and betterment of humanity. I hope your correspondent will take heed of these immortal words of Shakespeare: "There se nothing either good or bad, but think-

ing makes it so.’".

RORE JOHN JOS.

EPHS

(Wellington. )

Most Unfair. OUR correspondent "Fed Up, and then Some" is most unfair, and is certainly taking the view of one who lives in the city with its culture, re~ ligious and secular. He forgets us who, far from church or elevating media, who rely solely on literature and upon the "air" for our enlightenment and edification. "When I want to hear the Army I can walk," he says, but he forgets that we in the backblocks would still be walking. Surely every sector of the community must be considered, and when an event such as the death of the leader of what might be termed one of the world’s greatest spiritual organisations, dies, the Broadcasting Company is ridiculed for puting it on. the air. These unusual broadcasts are enjoyed, and the company’s effort to furher provide them appreciated by listeners. The suggestion that the station remain on the air to play records is rather ridicnlons-to me it suggests ending a

divine ‘service with .a fox-trot.-

MIS

INTERPRETATION

(Tokaanu. )

Sunday Radio. ON behalf of many listeners and myself, we wish to express our appreciation of the great improvement in the programmes broadcasted from 2YA on Sunday evenings. Last night’s programme by. the Wellington Silver Band was very good indeed, and from the applause of the audience it was equally well received there, and I'm sure would be equally enjoyed all over New Zealand. If I may be allowed to suggest, a hymn tune added to the programme would be appreciated. They come out splendidly over the air by the band. With all good wishes for

the future-

A LISTENER

(Cambridge)

Reception of Relays, W.I. writes: "The reception from * the Timaru broadcast was not good between approximately 8 and 8.30, but

. from then on it improved, and before 9 p.m. was coming over as well as one eould possibly wish for. The criticism in the "Radio News" and in a daily paper may have been based on the reception at the commencement of the broadcast. The reception of the Whangarei Band concert, relayed by land line through 1YA, was_ successfully picked up on a 2-valve machine."

Two Appreciations. I GET the weekly "Radio" paper, and in it I am surprised to see how many grumblers there are in New Zealand. I am a listener-in every evening -we have a very good wireless set. Ijgrant I know very little about wireleksbut what I do know I owe to you. I appreciate the efforts of everyone who is connected with the radio announcers, uncles, aunties, ete., as well as the wonderfully good music and entertainments you give us. I often ponder how you in 1YA, 2YA, 3YA, and 4YA can produce such variety every night. -The children’s sessions are wonderful. I take a great interest in listening-in. All I can say is thank you very much indeed. From one who is very grateful to 1YA, 2YA, 8YA, and 4YA, ‘The dinner session is excellent. -GRATEFUL (Dunedin). T am well pleased with all your progammes, and if I am not I switch on to another station. Those who grouse at them I ask for what they alone want are utterly selfish, and do not consider othes. Carry on, and good luck," adds a correspondent to our office, H.H.B. (Kawhia). 4VA at Cromwell. HRHAPS the R.B. Co. would be interested in suggestions in regard to their station, 4YA. Contrary to general experience in this district I ean always bring him in when he is on the air except on very rare occasions and now and then he comes in in great style, but unfortunately after a good night or so some of the screws apparently get loose and the modulator tubes rattle in their sockets-at least that is what it sounds like. In case they are short of tools to effect repairs I have w fine big axe they can have the loan of any time-DIOGHNES (Cromwell).