Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 6, 23 August 1929, Page 2

Auckland Notes

(By

Listener

(THE last issue of the "Radio Record" has evoked even more than the usual local interest. Readers found tmuch for encouragement and discussion in the excellent account of the dinner at which all types of radio folk were present, atid where broadcasters, dealers, and listeners fraternised to mutual benefit. The aceount gave Aucklanders, away from the centre of affairs wireless, a clear insight into all that is being doné, and an indication of what the future will hold. A gathering of a similar type, if held here, would be just as enthusiastic and productive of equally good results. The only things necessary are the occasion and the organiser. , "THE time is only recent when owners of radio sets were concerned merely with the achievement of picking up something, and the further the distance of the "picked-up" station the greater the delight of the recipient of the transmission, Our edrly.receptionists were not, in the main, musical, nor even critical, except upon the point of volume. Now, however, conditions have altered. People who are true lovers of good musie own sets, and their ranks have swelled to many thousands. They expect quality, not distance, and there is no doubt that the catering for this growing proportion of listeners deserves fullest con‘sideration. And it appears to be getting it, One hears occasional complaints concerning the gramophone re- «. als of acts of great operas, but for one complaint there are dozens of ap--preciations, and it is pleasing to note that these recitals are being continued. A local listener,’ also a keen musical

student, suggests to the writer that on the local "classical night"-Tues--day--the whole programme should he given over to the gramophone, There is much in his conterition that it is preferable to hear, the world’s best artists in thier recordings of the great masters of music, than to hear the interpretatio. of Auckland’s best vocalists in the same items. He argues further that the additional orchestral scope afforded by the ‘gramophone is another justification for the adoption of his suggestion. How the general listening public would view his proposal can be gauged only through the correspondence columns of the "Record’-the «best medium for securing the opinions of listeners throughout the length and breadth ‘of the land. . . VERY New Zealand station is supposed to have a silent night, a point upon which there has _ been much discussion and some complainr. There should bé no occasion for the lattér so far as Auckland is concerned. Scarcely a Monday now passes put 1YA is on the air, giving breezy and accurate accounts of some sporting fixture in the Town Hall. Both boxing and wrestling are receiving excellent advertisement through local radio descriptions of contests. OTH direct, and through 1YA the splendid Maori Pageant had excellent reception in Auckland. On the Friday night the writer entertained a trio of visitors to New Zealand, and so i.terested w.’e they that they insisted on listening till the programme . A

concluded. From thé broadeast they obtained a much more faithful idea of the real Maori than does thé average Rotorua tourist, "THERE will be general regret. at loss which will soon fall Auckland listeners. Regularly e have listened to and enjoyed the relays of the Majestic Theatre Orchestra. Now the Majestic is going over to the "talkies," and presumably the orchéstra will no longer be required at the theatre. From the purely Selfish point of the listener, the change ig to. be regretted. ~ Some listeners have asked of late Why the "talkies" themselves" could not be broadeast, Chatting to a theatre mafiager the other day, the writer mentionéd the subject, to learn that such a broadcast would be appreciated as a boosting medium by thie picture people themselves, but unfortunately that vexed law, of copyright interfered. It. seems that very stringent conditions bind down the exhibitors of the latest type of film.