Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 52, 11 July 1930, Page 29

Our Mail Bag

While we welcome the expressed views of listeners on topics pertaining to radio, we ask that these communications be kept to minimum length, 4s 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, thongh a nom-de-plume might be used for publication, . ,

IN BRIEF. . DUNEDIN correspondent, under the nom de plume of "Dxcelsior," endorses "Listener’s". remarks in last week’s mailbag anent the auality and variety of the programmes from 4YA, and adds that the standard of etitertainment, from this station does not nearly approach that from the northern stations. © oy "PORTAROA". ‘writes a letter of stormy protest on the broadcast description of the first Test. match."A child could have made as good an attempt," he says. OWING to the volume of correspon‘dence on both sides of the "Good Night" question, we have been unable to. publish a large number of letters, and have had to curtail those pub-lished.-Ed. SOUTHLAND Listener, in expressing appreciation of 2YA’s announcer’s style, adds: "2YA concerts and plays are highly enjoyed in this part of New Zealand. Kingsford Smith’s conversation from New York to Sydhey. was heard splendidly on Saturday evening. Thanks, 2YA."" 7 . as What is a Good Good-night? READ with disgust the two little baeckhanders dealt to Mr. Announcer by "Kelburn" and "Matilda." What is wrong with his "Goooood-night?" Switch off your set if it jars. Little retorts like yours jar many other listeners more than the announcer; on with the "Gooooodnight." Why ery about the ladies’ prison? One’s own commonsense should put him right even if Mr. Announcer did slip. You say even a very well educated man might get tangled in his language; we did not miss the little slur, "Matilda." Why always pull Mr. Drummond to pieces? Is he the only announcer who makes mistakes, and very small ones at that? Play "cricket" and be fair to a good and popular an-nouncer.-Fair-go (Murchison.) HB manner in which the announcer at 2YA bids listeners good-night is certainly "a brand of his own," and a jolly good one, too. I in ¢ommo with quite many others would miss it very much, and trust that no notice will be taken of "Kelburn’s" grouch. I should advise him to join the good morning club, and if he keeps that in mind a cheery good-night won’t rile himAti Meo (Hawke’s Bay.) ’ I Apt glad to see someone has brought p this question of Mr. Announcer’s "Goo-00-00d night." I agree with "Kelburn" that it sounds silly, and I am one of the. listeners who wish to turn off the set before the final adieu is given.

It would be quite suitable for the close of the children’s session, but for grownups to have to: listen to that every night-well, it gets on my neryes, absolutely, and as for bringing a laugh, as "Statice" says, yes, a latigh of derision, in my house.-"‘Raetihi." I HAD intended being the first. to ~ eastigate "Kelburn" and "Matilda". on their petty criticism of 2YA’s popular announcer, but felt certain. that an abler pen than mine would do the job more thoroughly, and I have not been disappointed in "Static" (Wanganui). { endorse his remarks as well as commending to the notice of "Kelburn" and "Matilda" the notes by "Switch" in this week’s "Record." Don’t let the pessimist sow his seed in God’s Own Country. Carry on, Mr. Announcer, and Go-000-04 luck to you--"Well Satisfied" (Christchurch). © I HAVD been listening all the evening for the announcer of 2YA to mispronounce some word, so that I eould write in and criticise him. [ had to keep. a dictionary at hand, but my luck was out, so I am going to criticise the critics. I often wonder what kind of showing some of these gentlemen who are so fond of criticising would make of the job. While I certainly believe that constructive criti-_ cism is helpful, the majority of letters are written in exceedingly bad taste. If certain people must criticise, first let them get something worth while criticising, but for goodness sake, stop this perpetual pin-pricking. I am not going to say I like all the programmes from 2YA. I do not expect that. I detest jazz, but that is no reason why other people should be deprived of it. Taken on the whole, I think our programmes compare more than favourably with any put on in Australasia. As for our announcer, I have yet to on ; &

hear a better one. His voice is well modulated, clear and pleasant, and ny family will not switch off until they hear his "Goooood-night." If 2YA would like to put on an exceptionally. good night, I would suggest that they work out something like the fullowing, preferably for a Wednesday night:. Call for these critics and artists through the "Radio Record." These said critics and artists to be paid at

| en fe te Pe ~~ PRAY pPrtm LDL DLL DD LLL EL LPI DED LI EI ID AN the rate of 2/6 or £1 for the night, the scale of pay to be decided by the vote of "listeners-in." This would also apply to‘an announcer. What we would lose in music, we would gain in mirth. I don’t think there would be many £1 artists.--The Man on the Fence (Kaiwarra). Kelburn Retaliates, I DO not wish to discuss 2YA’s "Good-night" any further, but would like to inform "Switch," since he accuses me of "Cissieness," that my alleged "Cissieness" did not debar me from serving my country in the World. War. I was in the Atmy from August, 1914, until the end of the war, and served on four fronts, three and a half years of which period I was in the actual front line, and am also the owner of three war- medals, including the 1914 Star. It would be better for

"Switeh" to be sure of his ground before indulging in abuse. In any case, my letter was more in the nature of an appeal chan of faultfinding, and I am sure that the announcer, if he read same, would take it as such.-Kelburn." , [We assure "Kelburn" that "Switch’s" comments were not meant in a personal sense. The paragraph was accidentally altered from its original meaning,-Ed.] Optimists’ Club, Wwe appreciated the special programme by the Wellington Optimists’ Club, and the Salon Orchestra, on Saturday evening, the 28th inst, The atmospherie conditions were extra good, and the reception splendid. It is a treat to hear the old-time songs, and we shall look forward with pleasurable anticipation to another evening’s entertainment by the club--F. H, 8S. Matthews (Kaitaia). An Appreciation, WE so thoroughly enjoyed your Sat- ~ urday evening’s programme by the "Optimists’ Club," "The Wanganui Artists," and the novelty of Kingsford Smith’s address at New York, that I feel I must send this short note of _appreciation, The programme was a great delight to us. This and the Maori Pageant by the Wanganui Maoris which was broadcast to Admiral Byrd in Antarctica have been very much enjoyed. The company is particularly fortunate in having such a fine announcer as Mr. Drummond.-‘Listeners,’"’ One For 1YA. : Me. FLEMING oversteps the marts, when he says that 1YA "might as well be off the air after sunset." I? you live over 50 miles from this station, I live several hundred miles from Auckland (150 miles south of Wellington), and find that IYA is the strongest, and most nearly perfect A class station in New Zealand. It can be depended on to provide an excellent entertainment day or night, and my set is only four-valve. IYA comes best, then 8YA; 2YA is a poor third, owing to distortion and fading, and 4YA can’t be depended on-only occasionally can it. be heard decently. I have received 13 stations in the North Island here, and there are others as well all scattered about, and should be very good for demonstration purposes.. My radio selling experience (three years in Canterbury before 2YA opened) showed that the majority did not want loeal stuff, but° would pass it for inferior programmes from Australia. Buck up, Mr. Fleming and others who run down 1YA, and if you are running a good receiver and ean’t get results, blame atmospherics, ete, not the station,lh. W. Anglesey (Nelson). Ketelhey Night. UST a note of appreciation in tegard to the above, one of the most enjoyable little programmes we Have had for some time, The works of this composer are very pleasing and. the Salon Orchestra and Hinde Quartet are to be congratulated on their performanees. The setting of "Sanctuary of the Heart" was unfortunately too low for Miss Greta Stark’s soprano voice, but the contralto and tenor numbers were most enjoyable, Mr. Will Haneock giving a particularly fine interpretation of "In a Monastery Garden,"