Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 6, 23 August 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 Editor, "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington.

Address’ Wanted. N the August 9 issue of this paper "Crystal" (Dunedin) stated that he had received 2YA several times on a erystal set. I would be very much obliged if "Crystal" would. send me diagrams and particulars of this set. Be could send them direct to "Crystal Fan," P.O. Box 263, Dunedin, if he

wishes.-

Crystal Fan

News Over the Air. Wway: the dearth of much local and ao general news from 3YA? On listening to Saturdays’ and Mondays’ news sessions I find practically none of the general news of our city. We certainly lear much about shipping, sport and market reports, these three taking approximately 25 minutes on Saturday and 17 minutes on Monday. Very often lately the session has been drawn out towards 7.45 p.m., yet on looking up the papers later we find the main pages full of news, never a word of which was breathed over the air. In Saturday evening’s paper various events as follows may be read, none of these being put on the air:-Flight of Graf Zeppelin, Christchurch Winttr Show, peerage for Chief Scout, fires at D. H. Brown's oil-store, and Combined Buyers, fire at a Wellington theatre, death of Jack Cannot, and much other news of general interest. I travel over six hundred ‘miles a ‘week,.and I know that hundreds of

people-at the present time in the. surrounding districts are taking a grave interest in. the numerous acts of incendiarism in this city, yet never a whisper of it is put on the air. I am asked for information numerous times daily by country people who do not obtain their papers till they are many hours old. Dozens of these people own receiving sets, and are ever anxious to hear the latest news, but the R.B.C. isn’t doing very much to let them have

it. Another little complaint about BYA, Two or three times @ week various noises, more like an hilarious .party than anything else, burst forth during the news session. Hvidently someone in the studio having a jamboree, ut surely the cure should be simple. The concert portions of the programmes have been steadily improving from all YA stations. The recent relay from Wanganui put on by 2YA was splendid. Likewise of great interest were the rebroadcasts of the All Blacks’ matches.-License 129615 (Christehureh).

[Most of the important news suc as cited by our correspondent is copyright to the Press and consequently cannot be announced over the air. Probably if these items are examined it will be found that they are marked "Press Association-Copyright."-Hd.J On Various Views.

I WAS listening in last night to $Y4 to the service (Presbyterian), and it was remarkably fine and clear, and found it came from Timaru. I was very pleased. After the service I turned to 1YA to get Whangarei, and although it is only ten miles from me, I was disappointed. The reception was not good, rather in and out, but I expect it will be all right for the listeners down south. The All Blacks’ transmission has been very fine; that man at the "mike" in Sydney is a marvel, the way he familiarised himself with the men, so that he never made a mistake with their names, especially when they must look so much alike. Ags you did not broadcast Brisbane, I tried to get it myself, which I. did, but the description was very poor, the describer did not know their nanies and was not worth listening to. I have been greatly inierested in the Mailbag, especially on heated subjects, on which so many are SO ready to speak for the majority. My experience in life has proved, to me many times that really the only one I can really vouch for is myself. — A little while ago someone was complaining of dinner music being too high

class; have jazz. Now when I wrote last year complaining about too high class musie I certainly did not mean thu class pf music you put on at 6 p.m., which is just my taste. Those instrumental pieces are the kind I call "wellbred" music, neither over our heads nor téo low down. And I must say I do like the records put on. When one thinks of the way these people plan to: make them sell, it stands to reason they get the best talent possible and also find out the best instruments to avecompany.

Having fixed our ground wires again recently I find we can get Christchurch during the afternoon and far stronger at that time than Wellington, strange to say. I am greatly elated. over that, because I was not able to get it before, biit we have eleven grounds. The Auckland Little Theatre people are very good. I listened to the "Bird in Hand" with great pleasure, 2YB, New Plymouth, comes in here very strong and pleasingly. T wish 3YA, Ohristchurch, would do more Dunedin relaying. I just turned there one evening and heard the finish of some minstrels they were relaying from 4YA. I was sorry I had not turned on before, but,.of course, Wellington is the station for us, as it is eenerally so reliable and strong enough

to cut out stafic.-

L.

Hill

(Mangapal).

P.S.-Had to open my letter to send along my appreciation of the Wanganui concert. "It was the best ever." Quite puts Wellington Municipal "and Sunday concerts in the shade. I fancy the Opera House, Wanganui, must have been built for broadcasting, as it was clearer in my room than anything else except the Timaru church service on Sunday, that I have heard for a long time. The elocution was wonderful. I heard every word.

Mystery Play Enjoyed. WOULD just like’ to say how much we enjoyed the play on Monday night. It came through splendidly, and we enjoyed every minute of it. A nice change from the ordinary programme, and we would like. a few more. We are looking forward to the Maori pageant. Why not give us a few more Maori concerts? The Otaki Maori concert was splendid, and I’m eure evervbody- appreciates Maori

musie and hakas,_ ete-

Country

Mouse

Raetihi.

. The Morse Nuisance. Is ‘anything going to be done to put a. stop to the intolerable Morse nuisance? As things are, it is a case

of "Hvery programme ruined by ‘{- Morse." Before we paid our licenses for this year the announcer told us that it was only a temporary disturbance caused by the warships in the harbour prior to their dispatch to Samoa. But the warships have been and gone and the bother is worse than ever. ; . All I ean say is that I, and other musically-trained subscribers, have no. intention of renewing unless this strident discord is stopped. We understand that it is perfectly feasible for the Morse to be tuned out by the authorities (at some little expense), and, in any case, the noises at times stopped down to something comparatively reasonable, so that shows the possibility of keeping it within bounds at once. Will vou be so good as to deal with

the matter

M.L.

G.

[The warships are back agaim-and that’s the trouble, We are sending a copy of your letter to the commander, and hope he has a soft heart.-Ed.J

Another Plea, N the "Radio, Record" of July 26 your correspondent, "Churehgoer," states that his little- girl, six years. of age, asked him to write-and. ask toe have some of the church services ‘held on Sundays. replaced by musical items. Well, does he think that the R.B.C. is going to be told what. to do by a girl of six? Besides, the church services are not broadesat for young children; they have their own special hour. T ask "Churchgoer" to tell us. how often this thing occurs. He signs himself "Churchgoer," yet he evidently listened'to all the services. When did he go to church? . Now "Churchgoer," seeing you have written at the request of a little girl of six, perhaps you will stop complaining at the request. of a much older person.-‘Aco." Maori Pageant. M4 I express the sincere pleasure of myself and family of Maori

pageant from 2XA last evening.-

R. B.

Schofield

(Hastings).

I HAVE been a constant reader of the "Record" since its inception, and’ have oftimes been more than amused by the letters, both of approval and disapproval, which have appeared therein. It does not -require ‘more than the average amount of intelligence to realise. how impossible is the task of pleasing everybody ;. that is beyond the power of any ordinary mang so all one can do is to do the best they! know how and leave the result in the lap of the gods. Personally, I am more than .satisfied that the annual license is the best investment I ever made, and assure you I am more than satisfied by the efforts so successfully put forth to provide both items of interest, amusement, and education. I consider that the programme put on the air last night-viz., "The Maori Pageant"’-was one of the finest efforts ever put forth by 2YA and have to tender my thanks for same. Possibly this may help to balance .some of the: hard things which are unjustly hurled. at you. You were fortunate in the night also, as there was a complete absence of static or other atmospheric disturbance ; in fact, it was a night out of the box. Best wishes

for continued success.-

-Chas.

J.

Champ

ness

(Frankton).

Our Mailbag : (Continued from page 12.) "Kindness Personified," We enjoy the programmes put on by the Radio Broddcasting Company, including the relays, which come through perfectly. I was surprised at "A Friendly Critic’ suggesting Mr. Drummond's "Goo-o-d Night" is drawn out to amuse us. -What rubbish? I prefer to think, and I wonder if othérs do, that he is sincérely wishing us a good night. Aunt Gwen séems a personal friend also, and I enjoy listening to her voice very much. She must be ‘kindness personified. Would you pub-

lish her photo for us, please?

NOT

INTELLIGENT

(Kaitaia).

Extended Hours. . I CONTEND that the company’s policy of waiting for increased revenue before extending further broadcast services, is wrong and can only result in hindering the progress of radio in New Zealand. Wxtend the hours of broadcasting, improve, where possible, the service and programmes, and I feel sure the company will soon reach the thousand of potential listeners. that ate at present available. With New Zealand’s population, we do not néed to think about a possible saturation point in radio licenses until the 150,000 mark is reached. Optimistic? Well, yes, possibly so. Nevertheless, tis horiest optimism, and I believe what I have stated.

We who have been connected with radio since the old 2YK days, can well appreciate the present ‘standard of programmes and service we now enjoy. But if radio is to progress and take its rightful place among’ the people of New Zealand, it will be necessary for the Radio Broadeasting Company to refrain from "sitting back and waiting for the increase." With warmest good wishes for the future prosperity and advancement of your "Radio Record," and also the New Zealand Radio

Broadeasting Company.-

H.J.

C.

(Pet-

one).

i Satisfied. WISH to add a few words in appreciation of the service ‘rendered by the Broadcasting Company, and also by the announcer of 2YA, to whom we delight to listen, and regard him as an old friend. His delivery is very clear, and one can hear every word, which makes all the difference to the programmes. We'hope to hear him for a

good many years yet.-~

W.

W.

(Master-

ton).

I WISH to congratulate the Broadcasting Company for the way they are carrying on their business. I do think they are doing their best to give us as much for our 30 shillings a year as they can. I dare not try to find fault. Modern musi¢ and song I do not understand, but in these days of different tastes it would never do to expect every night songs of 70 years ago. All the announcers that I have heard are: very pleasant, plain speakers.-

B.

L.

(Havelock ‘North, H.B.).