Topical Notes

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 21, 6 December 1929, Page 12

Topical Notes

_M. S. DUNEDIN, after a few weeks’ stay in Wellington, has departed: for the north. The interference from the eruiser’s transmission of Morse while in port, which was a frequent source of annoyance to local listeners on the occasion of previous visits of the ship, was seldom heard during her recent stay at Wellington. The Dunedin’s transmitter was heard, however, occasionally sending brief messages, and its note was unmistakable. Nevertheless the ship behaved very well on the whole, and there was less desire on the part of local listeners to wish the cruiser were elsewhere. ECEPTION, in Wellington, of the Australian stations during the rcent bad weather was down to zert and not a few less experienced listeners have been blaming their receiving sets, valves, or batteries. "Switch" has been approached by some listeners who had first "tried to find fault" with their equipment before ascertaining the conditions of the ether. Listeners who find distant reception poor should ascertain from other listeners their experience before blaming their equipment. Though the trans-Tasman stations were a whisper only, the "YA" stations came in very well. [THs statement by the new Commonwealth Labour Prime Minister (Mr. Seullin) that in the review of the broadcasting position the Government would consider the advisability of charging higher fees for powerful re- , ceivers than for crystal sets has’ evoked a storm of opposition from * country listeners, who, in letters to the editor of the "Sydney Morning Herald," vigorously protest against the. -- change. They point out that in the country it is necessary to have powerful receivers if any station is to be tuned in at all, and contend that the three, four, or five-valve sets in the country areas give no better service to their owners than to erystal sets in the metropolitan area. OHN Philip Sousa, the great march composer, of America, whose latest items are heard from the "YA" stations, has been before the public for many years as a band conductor. By a coincidence, Sousa and the Marine Band were photographed, in 1882, beneath one of the first electric ares ever used’ to light a band-stand. Sousa x and his own band have lately been appearing before microphone in America, and by means of a network of stations, linked up together, their. music has been heard by millions of listeners.