Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 10, 18 September 1931, Page 6

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,

Talks by the B.B.C. your specially featured article, "The B.B.C. from a Different Angle," the opinion is expressed that the British corporation gives too many . Last winter in England I listen--in most days, and evenings for a period of ten weeks; might I therefore give you the benefit of my impressions. I. found that the general adjustment between classical music, light music, vaudeville, entertainment talks, and ducational talks was designed with & very great sense of proportion and justice. In London, with even a cheap et, and good sets are extraordinarily eap in England now, one can readily et at least three programmes, Naional, London Regional, and Midland Regional, and when a talk is being ven on one wavelength, there is alpost invariably a different form of intertainment on the others. But this is only one opinion. Recently the "Daily Herald," which has a rapidly increasing circulation of considerably over a million, and which contains some of the most intelligent journalism in Eng-. land, held a plebiscite, with the result that its readers, by a majority of ten to one, approved of the retention of the talks as at present given. The B.B.C. always has welcomed criticism, and shown itself extremely ‘sensitive to the public demand. _ Its eneral cultural attainments have been outstanding; such was the opinion of various people with whom I discussed these matters in England. To say, as your contributor does, that "the B.B.C. has spelt ruin to the English programmes" is calculated seriously to mislead the New Zealand public, and

is auite simply not the truth-

P. W.

Robertson

(Wellington).

Government v. Private Control. . ‘BEING a radio dealer I have come | into contact with hundreds of licensed radio listeners since the above controversy commenced. It is a sig-

nificant fact that not one of my clients nor any other listeners I have spoken to are in favour of the Government being interested financially in broadcasting. Some have expressed ‘their disapproval in no uncertain terms. I am sure if listeners only knew the seriousness of the position they would have much more to say in the matter. Tt seems incredible that the Government should want to spend £30,000 in purehasing the present company’s plants in the main centres wlien the country is in such a bad way financially. The Government is continually advocating reduced expenditure and increased revenue, yet the next moment they decide to spend £30,000 (that is the Postmaster-General’s estimate). I am afraid he will be a long way out when he goes into. details. I should say that with the expenditure necessary for linking up "B" class stations, the cost will be more like £50,000 to £60,000. It seems hard luck on the present company after having pioneered radio

broadcasting (for hard pioneering it has been) to such a successful and high standard to be deprived of its just reward. The Government will find it extremely hard to secure the services of competent men at the remuneration offering. The present company improved its broadcasts as finance permitted, which is only sane business. Low, then, can the proposed new board improve matters unless with greater ex-

penditure. The average person has no idea of the magnitude of providing fresh talent and broadcast matter for four. stations. In using the B.B.C, as a model for the proposed new management of broadcasting, surely Mr. -Donold does not hope to equal, or get anywhere near, the standard of talent available to the above company. The revenue from licenses in New Zealand iis a mere pittance when compared with that of the B.B.C.. An article in the "Radio Record" of ‘September 11-by Mr. H. A. Bloxham reveals whether or not the B.B.C. is a model after which to fashion our broadcast service. This gentleman gives us an instance of £1000 peing paid. for one item, and those who foot the bill have no redress in the matter. One would think that the Government had enough to manage without interfering in the social pleasures oz the people. It is impossible to please everyone, but any broadminded listener must appreciate the difficulties with which the present company were beset and the practical way in which it has overcome innumerable setbacks, financially and otherwise.

In three more months we will have a change over, but in the writer's opin- / ion the proposed board has a hit battle in front of it to improve on our". present broadcast service with the capital available-‘Not Too Hopeful’ (Hamilton). Pipe Music. HY are there not more pipe band records?.. I have had my set just 12 months, and during that time t have heard the: pipes about five times. When I arrived home to- day I was informed that the best music on the afternoon programme from 1YA was a selection, the march past of the Highland Regiment, and the Tattoo selection. Alas, I was not home to hear it, I think records jike these could be played at least once a day, alternately, from the YA stations, preferably during the evening sessions. The bagpipes are historic, and two players of them have been awarded the V.C. King George still maintains his\private piper, and royalty always atténd the Highland games in Scotland; therefore I think Scotland’s national ‘instrument should be heard a little more often. Trusting I have not taken up too much space of your valuable

paper.-

Piper

(Warkworth).

Music and News Sessions. Wy BILE I have no complaint with the programmes, I would suggest that two of the YA stations could put onthe usual dinner session from 6 to 7 p.m., while the other two could give the news and lecture session at 7 p.m.; the order could be reversed, the first two could give the news and lecture session and the other two @ musical programme from 7 to 8 p.m. Personally the news session does mot interest me, as I get the daily paper and most of the news broadcast Ys already 12 hours old, but I fully appreciate the needs of country listeners as regards news. If my suggestion were adopted I think it would remove the cause of a lot of complaints and dissatisfaction and at the same time enable those who do not desire to listen to the news, etc., to tune in to a musical programme and vice versa. At: present for those who do not listen to the news there is nothing to. tune in to. between 7. and 8 p.m. After all, it isthe A class stations that we support, and ‘we should not be forced to turn to B class stations for musieal entertainment, particularly be-

tween 7 and 3 p.m

F.

Spencer

"To be: Continued." TPIS not often I rush into print, preferring to derive a certain amount of education and quiet amusement from your weekly "Mail Bag." Also, I must say that your technical articles .and construction columns have been ¥ery useful to me, and I look forward arith pleasure to each ‘issue of the "Radio Record." Now, don’t break your arm trying to pat yourself on the back as I’ve a kick coming. I am heartily in agreement with you concerning advertising over the air, but, Oh, Mr. Editor! Why not be consistent? Look through the last. few issues.of the "Radio Record" and there you will find advertisements jumping at you from all quarters. Personally I object to having good reading mixed up with advertisements, You start off, an excellent. article whick fills up half a page;.the rest of the page is filled with one or two advertise--ments, and you tell your readers’ to turn to page 29 or 30 to finish the ar(Continued on page 29.)

Our Mailbag (Continued from page 6.) ticle, although there is ample room on the first page for the whole article. Recently you printed an article in this manner. The illustration of it was on the first page and the text referring to the illustration was on page 29. Consequently, in order to compare the illustration with the text, one had to be continually turning the leaves. Result: many hard things said about editors who are not consistent. Put the ads. where they belong-at the back of the

book.-

Tom

(Otahuhu).

[Advertisers do not agree that they "belong at the back of the book."’-Td.] Landfair, WISH to draw your attention to an "article appearing in your issue of ‘riday, September 11 (Vol. V., No, 9) under the heading "Programme Jottings," page 2. Being a Welshman I could not help but notice the incorrect spelling of a Welsh town by Mr. D. E. Parton. The correct spelling is as follows :- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllantysiliogogogoch. You will notice that the correctly spelt word contains fifty-six letters and not twenty-nine letters as shown by Mr. Parton, including a letter "gq" which does not exist in the Welsh alphabet.

REGULAR READER

Wellington.

Change Not Favoured. AS a license-holder, I should like te yoice mys opinion regarding the Government taking over the radio con. trol. I don’t approve of the ®overnment interfering in any way. I am perfectly satisfied with the preseat R.B.C. and consider they are satisfactory iv every way. The increase in licenses speaks for itself-4 Valve (Ieatherton). R.B.C.’s Help Appreciated. TP several issues of the "Record" there have appeared conflicting reports on 3ZR and 8ZE. There is no conhection whatever between the two stations and neither. do we work in conjunction with each other. The West Coast Radio Society run 8ZR and work: on the following schedule:-Monday, 7 a.m, to 9a.m.; Tuesday, 6 to 10 p.m.; Thursday, 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, to 5 p.m., and 6-9 p.m.; Sunday, 3 to 4.30 p.m.,. and 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Friday evenings will shortly be on the schedule, too, from 6to10 p.m, We have a children’s hour from 6 to 7 every evening we are on

the air. We also frequently relay 3¥A. by land lines. Our aerial power is 80 watts output,-not 20 as has been previously stated in the "Record." The studio and transmitting plant is situated in Sturge Street, Cobden, and is connected to the local exchange by special land lines supplied by the Broadcasting Company,.N.Z. 3ZE is operated only on Friday afternoons, 12 to 2 p.m., and Wednesday evening, 8 to 10 o with a power of 50 volts. We would like to make this clear to all listeners, aS we understand that some have heen led to believe that 3ZR is replaced hy 3ZH. .-Over 2000 reports have been received from Auckland to the Bluff and from all parts of Australia. Incidentally, these have all been replied to. We wish to place on record the appreciation of the West Coast listeners for the way in which the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Ltd, have helped 3ZR by relays, this making possible perfect reception, of football, boxing, and talks, eteWest Coast Radio Society, per M. BE. Spiers, Station Manager,