Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 51, 4 July 1930, Page 9

Our Mail Bag

While we welcome the expressed views of listeners on topics pertaining to radio, we ask that these communications be kept to nfinimum length, as heavy demands are made upon space, Mere reiteration of arguments cannot be accepted for publication, and we cannot take responsibility for views expressed. Address communications to the Editor, and sign all correspondence, though a nom-de-plume might be used for publication.

Wanted! A Sacred Sunday. HY do we have to endure secular ' programmes on the Sundays? There is time for the kind of music we are getting on Sunday afternoons, and is it necessary to fill its hours with week-day programmes? Why can’t we have more sacred music on Sundays? I am sure that several other listeners feel the same way.-Unsatisfied" (Motueka). A Well-appreciated Entertainer, AM writing in appreciation of the consistent excellence of the entertainments provided by Mr. Victor S. Lloyd, both in conjunction with his company, and in the relating of his "experiences." I submit the following suggestion in the hope that it may meet with approval: "I suggest that Mr. Lloyd and Company give us a good English winter > evening "party" some night. The scene could be the drawing-room of a. big eountry residence-preferably in the South of England-and "guests" could include a sufficietn number of musicians. to provide musical numbers, e.g., the Haddock-Dixon-Chapman Trio. I feel"sure that an evening of this kind, under Mr. Lloyd’s direction, in conjunction with a good blazing log and a July "southerly," would be appreciated by many listeners. Will someone, please, second the motion?-"Zedder" (Masterton). . WE appreciate 2YA’s programmes and particularly Mr. Liloyd’s plays, which are enjoyed by my husband and myself. "Kelburn" certainly . heads the growlers’ band, and seems loathe with a word of appreciation. Contrary to him, we always switch in to 2YA to get Mr. Announcer’s distinctive "Good-night" if, having .'‘been out, arrive home before closing down time. We have friends here, and far north and south, who do likewise. Wishing all 2YA artists best of. luck and continuation of our popular announcer’: Goooood-night.-"‘Carry On" (Otaki). A Little Humour Now and Then. BH have nothing to complain abou. here as regards mushiness or fad ing from 2YA or any of the Southen stations, in fact the tuning of 2YA is perfect, both 4QG and 2FC cominy through without a trace of the Welling ton station being in evidence. A sligh: mushiness lasting about five seconds during the news service was all I found during half an hour’s close attention after reading the letters from listener in the less fortunate districts. _1YA is the worst we get here, which ig a pity, as,:the items are well chosen. ‘Ft- is perfectly hopeless to follow the plays without strain. It. used to be all right formerly. 83YA T ean find no

fault with I’m afraid, and would say the same of 4YA, if the manager ‘would: only station someone at the door of the studio to refuse admittance to more than one piper at a time. A pipe band with drums complete does not broadeast at all well, whereas a single piper close to the microphone is worth listen‘ing to on all occasions. Now for the inevitable complaint! I’ve glanced through the programmes of all. the stations in your issue of June ‘13, and among the four or five hundred items of vocal entertainment, I find two humorous songs, sung by our good friend Mr. Jock Lockhart, on Saturday evening, from 3YA! What have we done? In the present state of the wool, butter and railway

industries, do we not want some cheering up? Are we only allowed a Harry Lauder record in the afternoons? I consider that at least 10 per cent. of the programmes should contain a dash of humour in the shape of comic songs or patter as a variation to the rather sentimental, though delightfully rendered, stuff of which "surfeiting my appetite has sickened and so died." If the sta-

tions can’t readily find a comedian at all hours, they can at least rope in a record. I do not include the "dance" programmes in my remarks. You may have the "Ten Eyck Whispers," or "The Hotsy Totsy Gang," and their kindred from 10 to 11 p.m. every night in the week if you like. I’m on to Australia !-G.F. (Ohura.) Broadcasting of Test Matches. [I the Northland the reception from Wellington in the afternoon is very weak, although it is very good at night. I tried hard to follow the Test last Saturday, but was unable to do so. My proposal is that all Test matches be relayed by all four YA stations, and so give the people who own small sets and

crystal sets a chance to hear those matches.-W.P. (Whangarei. ) [The arrangement with the N.Z. Rugby Union was that the local station 2YA would broadcast each Test match. -Hditor.] RE the first Test match in Dunedin on Saturday, June 21. The Broad-

casting Company is not to be congratulated on its choice of an announcer. The gentleman’s friends: on the grandstand interested him more than the game. We of the back-blocks, with no chance of seeing any of the big games, hope that the future Tests will be-con-ducted by an announcer with more interest in football, or, perhaps, fewer friends in evidence.-"Maroro" (Matawai). Another Theory. I HAVE been interested in the correspondence in the "Record" witb reference to the "mushiness" of 2YA. and particularly in the various theories and reasons for such, as given by your correspondents.

May I please add another theory which I think accounts for the fact that the reception is good during the day and becomes. distorted and "wheezy" at night. I think it is due to the close proximity of 5CL, Adelaide, which station at this season comes in pretty well. Is it not likely that the "side bands" from each station clash and cause a whistle and wheeze in the reception of either station?-B, J. Rea (Papakura. ) Soma time ago complaints appeared regarding mushiness from 2YA, Gisborne suffered in silence. We were glad to see the mushiness disappear, but now we have fresh grounds for discontent. Why the hum from 2YA? It is worse than 4QG, and nearly as bad as 2HD. On Sunday night we could not listen to St. Paul’s Cathedral. On Monday night the hum somewhat spoiled "The House of Disappearance." On Tuesday night it was not quite so bad but it spoiled the programme. To-night during the dinner session the hum was accompanied by a ring somewhat akin to a hetrodyne. I did not dare tune in to 2YA at eight o’clock, Please do something to eradicate this interference, because "howlers" murder the other stations so that more than half the time they are not worth listening to. Re the nasty attack on Mr, Drummond. I must apologise for my fellowlisteners that there is one among us who has insulted a gentleman and 1 trust that that person will some day vegret his or her uncalled-for action. Carry on, Mr. Drummond! We are. all sorry there is a black sheep in the radio ‘listeners circle-L.I, (Gisborne). [Trade names of receivers cannot be accepted as noms de plume.-Hd.] More Good-Nights. NOTICE objection taken to 2YA’s announcer’s "Gooood-night," which we and all my listeners think really splendid. We trust that on no account will any notice be taken to make him change it. We think this is quite novel. It is eagerly looked forward to each night.-"Goooood Night" (Hikurangi). To say that we are disgusted with "Kelburn’s" remarks re the announcer’s good-night, is putting it mild, I am sure the popular announcer. of 2YA does not wish to jar or pain anyone, and if "Kelburn’s" nerves are in such a weak state that they cannot stand the strain caused by the gooooodnight, he may be benefited by a few weeks’ treatment at Hanmer Springs. To us and many other listeners of my acquaintance it is a pleasure to hear Mr. Announcer’s cheerful good-night.-"Disgusted" (Stratford).