Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 5, 14 August 1931, Page 8

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 correspondence, though a nom-de-plume may be used for publication,

News Session. NE, "Hos," writing this week, says, "Out out jazz, ete., reduce the news and reports, as most of it is stale to people who have already read their papers." it is quite evident that "Hos" igs a "townie", and a selfish one at that, I am also a "townie," but noted the "great boon that is given to the country listener by ‘the air in the way the news session is appreciated by the country -listener when I visited my old home in the Murchison district. We were ‘six miles from the post office, got the mail twice a week, unless we made a special trip for it, but the news came over each night from 2YA. Let "Hos" go somewhere where the daily papers do not reach each day and he will alter his opinion. "Tos" is right when he says that radio is a public necessity, but he must also remember that he is not the only pebble on the beach, and even if he and his like stop their licénse fees, the loss will be theirs, for others will step ‘into their places in the ranks of appreciative listen-

ers.

Wave Trap

(Wanganui),

More Dance Music. WOULD like to add my support to ’ the views of "Patient Listener-in" and "Ricky" in your issue of July 31. Too much cannot be said or written in condemnation of our "deadly . dinner music." The abolition of those long pauses, or tacets, punctuated only by erashes of static, was indeed an improvement, but why not continue with the good work? Surely the Radio Broad.casting Company need not have all its four stations broadcasting dinner music or news reports at the same time. One ean hardly listen to them all at once. Let’ us be provided with bright, cheerful music between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. More than ever at this time of depression and worry we need something light and happy to entertain, us as we return from perusing our declining wool, butter-fat

or sales returns. instead of first and second movements, as "Patient listenerin" writers. And with regard to dance music. Who wants to start a party at 9.80. p.m. ? Could not each station start its dancé programme at 8.30 p.m. once a week? ‘This would give us at least four nights of dance musie per week at a- time suitable for both the early-rising country listener and the city fan. With such improvements as these private control of the YA stations would he infinitely preferable to State control.

Waipa

(Otorohanga).

Children’s and News Sessions. I AGREE with some of "os’s" views, but I must disagree with the idea of eutting down the news section of 2YA’s programme. I have no axe to grind, as living in town I have usually cleaned up both daily papers before this session comes on, and if, as "Hos" writes,

most of it igs stale, well, switch off, as surely something else can be found to do during the forty minutes or so, but_I would ask, "What of those listeners in the waybacks who get their newspaper perhaps only three days a week or-less?" Is it not good to sit back in the evening and listen to the latest news while it is still fresh instead of being two or three days behind? I would like to back up "Tooth Grinder" re "Hollywood." I think we get just a little bit too much Yankee from 2YA, especially on Wednesday night. Re children’s session from 2YA. As most children have their parties on Saturday there is always an exceptional number of birthdays on this day, and they are put through only at the expense of the musical part of the programme. Only a few Saturdays back Uncle Jasper was unable to complete his budget in time and liad: to finish on the fo)-

lowing Tuesday. at the expense of. this rogramme and the disappointment of the siddies who were waiting on Saturday. Now what I would suggest is: Do Wot cut out the birthdays, that’s half the fun, but on Saturday start the session at 4.45 p.m., or as soon after the foot+ ball relay as possible, which would: give an extra quarter of an‘hour. Also, do not allow the calls to be duplicated. It is quite common to hear the same name called two or three times the same week and sometimes the same night. If a strict rule was made to call only the birthday. on the actual night or party night instead of both nights the session would be much improved. It is only swank on the part of some children to have all the uncles and Aunt Molly call them up, whereas the actual party is fun. Now, sir, count me as one vote (or more if you. like). in favour of the

present administration.-

Cheerio

(Kai-

warra).

More bass’ Wanted Ww think the band programmes would be improved.by more of the drumalso the orchestra would be better with some double bass. Both come opt well over the air. I think-the Dunedin Band is the only one that registers the drum.-

I.

T.

(Cambridge).

Tramline Interference. I TAKH it you are out to do all you can to assist radio reception in every way you are able. I wonder if you would draw attention to the scandalous attitude taken up by the electrical department of the local city council on the question of tramway interference of radio. The residents of Opoho-a hill suburb 24 miles out of Dunedin-on account of a tramway system that is in bad repair, cannot listen to any stations outside of Dunedin between 7 a.m. and 11.80 p.m. From the moment the car starts to climb the hill until it reaches Concluded on page 30.

rrr Our Mailbag

(Continued from page &.) the foot again on the return journey nothing but one long bellow of thunder comes through the set-in fact, all-electric sets Opoho, even a quarter of a mile from e tramline, ‘Those in authority ignore all appeals to have the system repaired i earthed, stating emphatically that tramways were first on the field and therefore radio must get along as pest it can. They admit the tramway system could be fixed to give out only a minimum of interference to radio, and also admit that the cost would be moderately light. They absolutely refuse to do anything, not even if radio listeners were to contribute a portion of the cost. Only a bombshell of Press agitation will move them. We would like to see "The Radio Record" and "The Radio Log" egitating for similar legislation to ‘New Zealand as is law in several other countries. In some lands nothing electrical is allowed to interfere with radio reception. Trust that an abler pen than mine will come to the aid of listeners in similar districts to Opoho and fight for the rights of radio,-Not-nats (DX480C). Import Duty. M=. BURT, of Kohukohu, in his letter in the "R.R." dated 7/8/31, said that the receivers are as cheap in New Yealand as in‘ the United States of América, but, according to a letter I have just received from U.S.A., this .is not to, One well-known make of receiver is sold in New Zealand for £48, and game receiver can be purchased in American for 45 dollars, or approximately £9. Another make which is sold in New Zealand at prices ranging from £49 to £55 is sold in U.S.A. for £24-R.B.

Wellington)

More Popular Music, GENpBRAL RALLY I am well pleased with the programmes broadcast by the "A" stations, but a correspondent in the ce brought up a point about the pop tyee of programme. These have, uring last month or two, faded away. The only popular brondcasts bai got are on Friday, 1YA, with gan’s Orchestra; Friday SSA, A alittle popular mus music; Friday ‘by ; Saturys with EB. Moody’s Where are the dances we had from 4Y¥A quce? Where are the good dance bands’ e all enjoy them when they do come

om. Could we not get some new dance records in the dance sessions? The present.ones are good, but one gets tired of the same over and over again. I have ne complaints about the afternoon sessions. . Those from 2YA are especially

go0d.

M.D.

H.

(Oamaru),