Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 50, 27 June 1930, Page 29

Our Mail Bag

Candid Comment. A BACKBLOCKS _ correspondent from Westland writes to the effect that the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand is a very parasite on the Australian stations, and anyone who contends to the contrary is "either a stranger to the truth or must have shares in the broadcasting company." Contented! EING a satisfied listener for the last three years, and being interested also in radio, I wish to put on paper my

congratulations for the all-round programme for all people. Truly a very hard job at the best. Listeners should always realise there are others with different taste from their own, and one must live and let live. I would like to hear more sacred music on Sunday afternoons; also in my business I meet a big number of radio friends, especially elder folk, and they also feel the same way. The old plantation melodies give the old much pleasure, and there are a good number of them scattered around New Zealand. I would like to.let you know that in this district the listeners are contented in every way."Contented" (Oamaru). Oh! the Inconsistency. We have not heard much of late of the controversy that once raged concerring the announcement of the station’s call sign in the middle of a record in the dinner music section, We were told that this was necessary to cope with the requirements of the P. and T. Department. The station’s call had to be given out every fifteen minutes or something ridiculous like that. What happens to this regulation when the station is relaying? It is probably tied up in red tape. When other stations are relayed we hear their eall sign, if we are lucky, not that of the immediate station, but during the

dinner music session when we don’t wish to be interrupted with announcements, the regulation comes to light again. The time for foolish regulations is well past. Why should listeners be inflicted with this kind of tosh, for the announcement certainly mars

bee enjoyment OL tne music--

Sealing

wax

(Wellington).

» Power Interference. Y¥Y set is situated close to a power line, and up to about the end of March the only New Zealand station that came satisfactorily was 2YA, the other stations being drowned by the frying noise. SYA wag steady enough in the daytime, but began to surge badly and become mushy as soon as night set in. Since about the beginning of April the same thing has taken place with 2YA, which is now not worth listening to. It is best during the dinner music, but the trouble increased towards 8 p.m. The fault does not seem to be in the set, nor, I think, in the station. Do you thing the trouble is due to increased power being put on the power line (the main line from Coleridge to the south)? 2FC is at present my best station, and it is not much"Power Interference" (Temuka). [Increased power on the line would ereate a bigger field, and might give rise to the symptoms.-Tec. Ed.] "B" .Class Stations. [N this week’s "Record" I read with, mixed feelings an article dealing with the acknowledgment of reports‘ by certain southern "B" class stations | under the heading "Static from the | South." My sympathies go out to, that "B" station, and I can quite un-, derstand how they feel about letters, of the type to which they took excep , tion. They provid. an excellent ser vice during the off hours of the R.B.C stations and naturally this takes money and time, and they must earn that money, so cannot spend all their "silent" hours acknowledging hundreds of reports. Aussie "B" stations earn ing incomes by advertising do not al ways reply, or may delay. It took ‘ 2H.D. three months and five days te ‘ acknowledge my card, so apparently ‘ the New Zealand stations are not the ‘ only offenders, From some southerr ¢ stations I receive cards almost by re- ¢ turn of mail. Best of luck to all "B.".- , ‘

Q.S.

L.

[We think the real point is that re ¢ ports are frequently asked for by the ¢ stations concerned, and it has becumc a matter of practice for cards of ac ( knowledgment to be sent. In the par: , ticular case the letter of request wa: ( simple and courteous, and the reply ( received. such as to occasion surprise and disappointment. Most people in contact with the general public may be allowed to have their "human" moments and feelings, but it is the part ¢ of unwisdom to indulge them.-Ed.] £

Carry On, 2YA, ON picking up my "Radio Record" tonight I was more than pleased to see that you consider that there is nothing to be gained by publishing the letters of those correspondents who haye written complaining of 2¥YA’s transmission. I for one feel sure that the technical staff of 2YA can do more with their knowledge toward eliminating any trouble that may arise than a lot of these correspondents can with guesswork, But, Sir, from what I can see, these correspondents are not satisfied with continually hauling 2YA "over the coals" alone, but now they have got the announcer of that station "on the mat." "Kelburn," to my mind, absolutely puts the finishing touches to a series of the most petty, fault-finding letters I have ever read. First of all he starts off ahout the cheery "Good morning," and then suggests a more cheery "Good night." Then he goes on to say how 2YA’s "Good night" is painful and jarring. Well, Sir, the Wellington announcer has never failed yet to bring a smile or laugh to anyone who has heard him at my place-in fact, they look forward toit. He goes on to say that the Aus. tralians consider it silly. Well, if the Australians and "Kelburn" don’t like it, who is making them listen to it? No, Mr. Announcer, carry on; you are doing good work, and if "Kelburn" can do better, well, I'll take my hat

off to him. —

Static

(Wanganui).

Mr. F. G. E. BROAD, who is well and favourably known in. Auckland and North Auckland districts as a singer, has been appointed travelling representative of the "Radio Record" for this territory, both in a business at.d literary capacity. Mr. Broad’s address is Port Albert Central, North Auckland,