Our Mailbag

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 27, 16 January 1931, Page 6

Our Mailbag

e Competition Wanted. CORRESPONDENT, "Rufus," from Ashburton, asks if it would not be possible to arrange a competition for readers who are not listeners. He states he is an enthusiastic reader, but funds will not permit his building a set, and he would like the chance of becoming a set owner. We have had a few letters from readers who are not listeners, but we think their numbers are really too small to permit a competition for them. We have in view a project which will possibly interest non-listening readers. An Unrehearsed Incident. i . QUITE a humorous though unr hearsed incident happened in th afternoon of Thursday, January 8, 1981, at the conclusion of a humorous record, a dialogue’ between two artists concerning road holes in London. Following an inguiry from one humourist, the other found the class of submerged pipe to be gas, by the aid of a match and hammer, with the usual result. Immediately listeners heard the fire engine coming down this London street to extinguish the flames. Then Mr, Announcer politely informed listeners that the Wellington Wire Brigade had just passed by the studio. Not the recording of a siren after all, hut the sound of one picked up by the

microphone. at quite an appropriate moment.-Sense of Humour (Wellington). 2VA’s Programme. HERE is obviously considerable dissatisfaction with 2YA programmes, and it is certainly surprising that no apparent effort is being made to improve them at this station. 2YA is the "king" station in New Zealand, and there are possibly thousands of listeners who depend on it for entertainment, as the other YA’s are too weak to give enjoyable reception. 2YA’s weakness appears to be an excess of vocal items, 1YA and 8YA have numerous piano items, and also first-class instrumental trios. If these stations can provide first-class music of this description, surely 2YA can do so also. It almost appears to the average listener that 2YA, knowing that so many listeners depend on it, and that consequently it does not have to cater for listeners, puts on programmes of mediocre quality. Some of the bands that play at 2YA are appalling, as are some of its artists, and if 2YA would only on 01 night a week put on a programmé@ 0 selected records of good music similar to its Sunday afternoon programmes, I feel sure that hundreds of listeners would be gratified. 2FC,, Sydney, on Sunday evenings have what they call celebrity records recitals, and they are wonderful. If one night a week (Sunday would be most suitable) was devoted to this class of entertainment no listeners would object, and I am sure the bulk of them would welcome the change. . I sincerely hope that this suggestion will be considered by 2YA authorities. -Screen Grid" (Opunake).