THE CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT IN RADIO.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 5, 16 August 1929, Page 6

THE CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT IN RADIO.

"THE. gathering of radio interests at.a dinner function on Friday _ evéning last was a happy idea, and. proved to be a clearing-house for. the exchange of thoughts and the development of mutual better understanding of others’ problems. The gathering was in a sense historical. It was, we believe, the first distinctly social gathering at which all the main radio interests of New Zealand were represented. So much co-operation and mutual good-will developed in connection with the. Wellington Radio Exhibition that the idea of cementing it by a social function was a natural evolution. In his speech, in reply to the toast of the "Radio Service," Mr. J. Robertson, Acting-Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, likened the Department to a referee as between the listener and the Company. It was their function, he said, to administer the regulations: and see that fair play obtained as between. the Company and the listener, The real hard work’ of the service was undertaken. by the Company, .and that naturally lightened their task. They occasionally had to blow the whistle and make’ suggestions in this direction or that direction. THIS point was happily commented upon by Mr. Harris.in his reply. _ Humorously, he assured his hearers-and this might be a consolation to listeners, too-that the Department frequently did more than blow its whistle; it. exercised definite effective supervision in the interests of the listeners; but, he was happy to say, the Department was in every way ready to co-operate with the Company whenever and ‘wherever co-operation was required. The efficiency of the service given listeners was materially added to by. the ready co-operation afforded by the Department. Just as an illustration he cited the fact that the recent relay from Wanganui was made effective at the last minute only by the efficiency of the Department. A misadventure to the land-line occurred one hour before the concert’ was timed to begin, and commitnication was lost with Wellington. It was then touch and go whether the concert could be broadcast. The-Depart-ment, however, rose to the occasion, speedily located the fault and rectified the situation, so that listeners received under highly satisfactory conditions the relay from’ Wanganui. In other directions as well, the; Department afforded definite backing in the interests- of. listeners and the added efficiency of the service. THE opportunity was taken by Mr. Ralph, as chairman of the Radio Branch of the Electrical Federation, to placé one particular

problem before the Department. This is the vexed question of the date of expiry of licenses at the uniform term of March 31. It was, _ he said, the definite and strongly held view of dealers that the expansion . of radio -would be facilitated by an alteration to permit licenses being ; taken from point to point. He hoped that it would be possible for .* _ thé departmental heads to go into this matter once more, with a view to seeing ‘whether some efficient means could not be devised to effect this... We can endorse Mr. Ralph’s view here. We have earlier pointed out the disability the service suffers by the sudden slump ‘in revenue suffered after March 31. A cure for that position would . be beneficial. Mr. Ralph happily remarked that the last twelve months had seen a marked development of. the spirit of amity and co-operation in radio circles. It was obvious that with the interlocking ° of interests the, service to the public would be increased and better results, leading to the attainment of the goal of 100,000 listeners, secured more rapidly by working together than in any other way. He was pleased to see the spirit that now obtained. . MR. HARRIS, on behalf of the Radio Broadcasting Company, took the opportunity to review certain aspects of the radio service, and; what’ will appeal most to listeners in centres other than Wellington, ‘¢ he promised that, so soon as circumstances warrant and the Company finds it possible, dinner sessions in particular will be provided at LYA, 3YA, and 4YA. The popularity that has attended the provision of this service at 2YA makes it certain that this move ,will be popular,’ and listeners will sincerely hope that the time will be short till Mr. Harris sees his way clear to make this extension. ANOTHER point of moment in Mr. Harris’s remarks was his brief: analysis of the function of radio. It was not its place, he indicated, to develop. competitively with other interests. It was its purpose rather to co-operate in every way with established activities. He indicated a decided preference for modern programmes. Frequently the remark is made that classical authors should be put on the airthat extracts from their works should be broadcast with a view to developing the popular taste. While a little of this may be done, Mr. Harris indicated that in his view the radio service would be fulfilling a better function by. concentrating upon the diffusion of present-day information,. broadcasting actual happenings in our times, encouraging { the study of present-day activities, rather than reviving the dead memories of the past. In this Mr. Harris is right. Study of the classics of the past is certainly desirable, but it is not desirable.on the air. , The student has his opportunity in his own home. The. public will naturally prefer the living. present to the dead past. Develo ment of present-day activity by an active prosecution of the rebroadcast of public events and extended relays from. provincial centres is indicated in Mr. Harris’s statement. This is a wise policy, which will expand the service and intensify rural interest. a "THE Maori Pageant which was broadcast from 2YA on two evenings last week, in commemoration of the second birthday of 2YA, was a distinct success. _On both evenings the transmission was good and the performances living and: vital. Opportunity to show . to the Wellington public the Maori Party in action was taken on Sunday evening at the Tramway Band’s concert in the Opera House. A number of choruses and. vocal items were given with action by the narty. These showed listeners the intensity and vitality that the Maoris impart to their performance. To achieve. the spirit of they occasion, even in the studio, they attire themselves in the national garb and carry out the nerformance with full vigour and swing. This co-oneration with the Wellington band was a hanny idea, and prompts the thought that on some future occasion it might be possible for a definite concert programme to be staged by 2YA in order to give the public not only a splendid concert, but an intimate touch with broadcasting transmission. ' QV