Auckland Notes

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 42, 2 May 1930, Page 6

Auckland Notes

(By

Call Up

"THE 1YA Station Choir, who scored such a success with their presentation of "The Rebel Maid" early in April, will give their second performance of the year on May 27, when their programme will consist of a miscellany of part songs, duets, and solos. Mr. Len Barnes, who conducts them, hints that there will be something "off the beaten track" in this programme. The _choir’s third performance will be the presentation of the opera "Marama," written by the well-known local musician Mr. Archie Don. xe % Bo "THE general feeling among Auckland, listeners now seems to be that pro-\ grammes and studio service are good, but that there is room for improvement *, in the actual transmission. There seems to be a lack of volume which is unwarranted. The strength is uniform and clarity good, but listeners, especially those with small sets, are complaining about the volume. One dealer says. he recently tried several good crystal sets on a good aerial in Remuera, but could not get 1YA satisfactorily with any of them, although it was only about five miles away. Many of these complainants attribute this fault to the aerial, saying that the station came in strongly previous to the change from a four-wire to a single-wire aerial. * % fc AUCKLAND radio dealers. report very brisk business during April, in marked contrast to the slack time experienced in March. One dealer sold three £65 sets in a week, which shows the modern trend to buy large sets, ~ which are also handsome pieces of furniture. Sales of small sets are gradually decreasing, but many of those who do buy such sets are displeased at not being able to take out a six months’ license at the beginning of the radio year. Thirty shillings is a large sum to raise out of the week’s wages in many homes, and it would be considerably easier for a large number of listeners to pay fifteen shillings halfyearly. * *

SOME years ago, long before talking pictures had been introduced to New Zealand, Mr. Edward Coubray, of Auckland, had been experimenting with kinematograph apparatus, his ultimate ambition being to produce a film which could be broadcast over the air. For some time he was held up in his work by the fact that even the best amplifiers and microphones the world could produce had many faults. When these '. became gradually so improved that they were very near perfect, Mr. Coubray patented his own Coubrpytone system of recording sound pictures, and a company was formed to exploit the apparatus. Initial attempts were very promising, and the Coubraytone is now being used to take an epic Maori drama at Taupo. This is under American supervision, and Mr. Alfred Hill has composed a special musical score for it. i