Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 54, 25 July 1930, Page 30

Our Mail Bag

While we welcome the expressed views of listeners on topics pertaining to radio, we ask that these communications be kept to niinimum 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 corréspondence, though a nom-de-plume might be used for publication.

A Tribute to 1YA, I CAN also bear out Mr. Angloser’s statement concerning: 1YA. I have a three-valve set, and on the 9th inst I was getting 1YA on full loudspeaker strength with very little fading. Reception was better than 8YA and of nearly same volume as 2vA. However, I cannot get 1YA at all in the daytime. The same night I was getting 2BL and 2FC also on the loudspeaker. I log 26 stations on this set. Expenses yearly £2/3/6,

weeklv 6d: and license:-

A.

P.

(Pe-

tone).

What is Art? I READ in*your issue of the 27th instant a letter on the subject of plays on the air, The writer, Mr. Montague, well known and admired for his artistic attainments, is much appreciated as a pioneer of radio dramatic production in New Zealand. It is, therefore, disappointing to find that he cannot differentiate between a classie play such as "Paolo and Franeesca" and a certain type of modern sex drama considered by Mr. Clarke to be unsuitable for the air. The tragedy of "Paolo and Francesca" is a story of wrongdoing and retribution ; of a network formed by Fate drawing two weak creatures to their doom against their wills. In the words of the blind seer, "Unwillingly he comes a-wooing, she unwillingly is wooed; yet shall they woo." Nowhere is the proper perspective of right and wrong lost sight of. There is a conscience in this play from beginning toend. "I had not thought!" eries one delinquent. "I have sinned and I am stained!’ Moreover, this tragedy is written in such fine poetry,as to be voted by the critics "a drama full of golden lines." Surely no one in the home circle, not even the children, could be morally injured by hearing a story beautifully and sadly told of "two who fell in love long years ago, and wrongly fell," and thus brought upon themselves the punishment of death. (If so, then Tennyson’s "Idylls" should be relegated to the farthest shelf!).

Now the typical modern sex drama is a story with no conscience and no moral perspective. . It usually depicts the slack behaviour of human nature at its worst, calling to the lowest element in an audience to respond to

sordid situations and unsavoury innuendoes. Surely between the two kinds of work there is a great gulf fixed !-

Guido

da Polenta

(Auckland. )

Announcers! WOULD just like to make a few remarks regarding the attack on Auckland’s sporting announcer and

other announcers. If it is Mr. Hutter who announces the wrestling and boxing contests, I would like to compliment him on his work. I do not hear his racing, so cannot pass jndgment on it.

I would also like to compliment the Wellington football man. He has an excellent carrying voice and his grip of the players is rapid and good with not too many "ers" while he is finding the player’s name. The announcer for the first test I consider not good. I would like to suggest to the 3YA studio announcer that when we are waiting for a rebroadcast to come on, as we were Saturday night, that he explains the goings on to liven up things a bit. For instance he might have explained why the man was counting from 1-0. We are not all experts and are ingrained with curi-

osity.

Moi

Whare

(Feilding).

(CONGRATULATIONS to the R.B.C. on the success of the broadcasts of both Test matches. They were perfect, and could be followed without the slightest difficulty. We had _ several neighbours over to listen. Two came over nine miles. I take this opportunity of thanking the company for the efforts they made to get the New Zealand Rugby Union to alter their decision and allow matches to be broadeast. Re the first Test at Dunedin: I think "Maroro" does not deserve the privilege of being able to listen to any of the football matches if he finds fault with the announcer. He was perfect, and as regards remarking about friends on the grandstand he was merely telling his listeners what past "All Blacks" he could see present. I congratulate Dunedin for broadeasting the second Test, and hope the company can arrange to have the next two Tests broadcast by all four stations, as it is almost impossible for any South Islanders to be present at the

Tests in Auckland’ and Wellington. Good luck to the Broadcasting Comnanv. We are for ever = erateful.-

Fair Sex

(Alexandra).

j BH listened to 8YA broadcasti of the Rugby Test on July 5. he reception from there was decidedly the | purest. It was, however, disappoiniingly lacking in volume as compared with the usual. .We had to use full volume to get room strength. Wellington and Dunedin, of course, gave ample reserve, but the reception, apparently due to the broadcast being "on relay," was unnatural and blurred. The voice had a sharp echoing quality which was most unpleasant. Concerning the actual announcing, little need be said beyond that it was perfect. I am sure that the fourteen enthusiasts who listened-in here would wish me ‘igcongratulate the Broadcasting Company on the keen, lively manner in which

the announcer followed the game- |

Dynamic

(Mosgiel).

IN your issue of July 4a correspondent, ‘"Maroro," takes the announcer of the first Test match in Dunedin to task. If that is all he has to complain about he should never write a complaining letter in his life again. Down south a large number of us were very enthusiastie over his announcing. Perhaps "Maroro" was jealous of the announcer’s cultivated English accent, which was very refreshing. "Kelburn’s" little fling at the Wellington announcer was quite uncalled for. His good-night always amuses and never hurts. We have a serious complaint about the surging and fading of 2YA. This has only happened in the last six weeks, and is now continuous; before that the reception and volwme were perfect. A great pity it @ould not be put back to its pristine glory.-

J.M.

(Invercargill. )

The First Test. I READ with disgust a letter by "Maroro" (Matawai), complaining of the announcer of the first Test. Well, to my mind he was the best sports announcer I have listened to, and all my friends say the same. It was cruel to say such a thing, and I don’t know what these folk want. Surely they must be unnatural. To say he did not take an interest in the match is absurd, as a better description could not have been given. Some people are never

happv unless they are growling.-

S. W.

Perkins

(Invereargill.)

Fight Broadeasis. L.B. (Tadmor) writes complaining that advice is not given in advance programmes of fights, wrestling tches, ete., thus occasioning country listeners some trouble in ascertaining whether a fight is to be broadcast or not. This is a situation which can hardly be avoided. The authorities of the sports in question sometimes take the view that prior announcement as to the match being broadcast will affect the attendance of patrons in the cities. Consent to broadcast is frequently given only on condition that no prior announcement is made. This explanation will make the position clear to our country friends, and show that, early advice cannot always be given. Broadcasting "National Evenings." FURTHER to a suggestion recently advanced by "Zedder" (Masterton) concerning the possibility of staging an Wnglish winter "paxty’ over the air, a Wairoa correspondent writes as fol-

lows :-‘I beg leave to second the motion put forward by ‘Zedder, of Masterton, in your columns of the ‘Record’ of ¥he 4th inst., and if ‘Zedder" is agreeable I would like to extend it somewhat to, say, a similar function each month. Of course, to be logical, you would then have to consider ‘A Guid Scottish Nicht’ and also an Irish and Welsh. Even if you had to curtail some of the other items, such as » JAZZ, I believe you would have very few growls. I never saw or knew any one yet who didn’t enjoy such programmes when presented, and certainly the older folks would be pleased. In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation of the programmes sent over now." Good Luck, Mr. Drummond. MAY I say a few words re Mr. Announcer’s "Go-ooo-od Night"? "Raehiti" says it gets on his nerves. ‘Why does not "Raehiti" switch off his set and tune in another station? Let: ters like "Raehiti’s" get on other peo ple’s nerves. I, like many other listeners, enjoy Mr. Announcer’s "Go-000 od Night," also his manner of speaking. I have heard all the R.B.C. announcers, also some from Australia, and America. IT am pleased to say that none of them ean come up to Mr. Drummond. I congratulate the R.B.C. on their choice of such a fine announcer. Carry on, wr Drummond. and Goo-ooo-od Luck.

Live and Let Live

(Silverstream).

, ‘Wanted-A Sacred Sunday. TT HEARTILY agree with "Unsatisfied" in the "Record" of July 4, and would greatly appreciate sacred music onSundays, especially in the after-nogus-not interspersed ,with secular items. However, if it be too much to expect a whole programme of sacred music, could we not have, say, the last half of the afternoon? I am sure it ‘would give, great pleasure to the older iyeneration aS well as to many of the

younger:-

Hopeful

(Wanganul.)