Our Mailbag

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 14, 16 October 1931, Page 5

Our Mailbag

Dinner Music. [J NDOUBTEDLY it is hard to please everyone, but still we must air our grievances. The dinner session may be all right according to 99 per cent. of the people-highbrows we will presume -but, sir; do you think the R.B.C. studies the 1 per cent. Every evening between 6 and 7 we have one mass of "selections" and "movements," and if by any chance we should have a light selection it is generally a dance item that is well out of date. I suggest that they draw upon their dance programmes for some up-to-date records for the dinner session. Why do we never see any complaints about too much jazz during the session? The reason is obvious: classical 99 per cent., jazz 1 per cent. and out of date. Regarding the evening session, why not 15 minutes of dance items similar to the international programmes, during the popular programme? Do you ever think it is likely that 2YA will open up for a breakfast session, between 7.80 and 8,30?-One Per Cent. Jazz. Likes and Dislikes. DON’T like these women singers; they are all as bad as one another, with one or two exceptions I’ll admit, but the rest have to be heard to be believed. The piano bangs out, they sing, you cannot understand a word they say, and next thing we hear, "we were entertained by the brilliant songster, Mrs. or Miss So-and-So." It’s funny V’ll say, but it’s no joke to listen to, but there’s a silver lining: I just twiddle round to another station. The R.B.C. have been jolly good sports to take on the control, and they deserve cheers. I disagree with the way they arrange their stations’ programmes, and I think about once a week from 8 to 11 or 12 a dance programme should be given. The company were the pioneers and should be allowed to continue, as they have gained experience, Certainly they know more about it all than we do, but I think that when a person

buys a radio he buys it for entertainment, and it’s hard when he has to pay all expenses incurred and not get what he wants. That is what I think about it, but I’m just one, and do not expect anybody to take any notice of me.Camera (Hastings). A Plea for Lighter Music. HBEARTILY agree with "Third Grid" and "Second Grid" that we should hear much more solo and popular instrumental music over the air from 2YA. This would greatly diversify the programmes and make them more interesting; and even the classical programmes would not suffer any "comedown" if they included an occasional, or rather a regular, bracket of clarinet or cornet solos. There should be no difficulty about this as both the orchestras at 2YA contain the necessary soloists. Why are they so seldom heard? Why cannot we hear more of such artists as Mr. Lad Haywood (whose regular Saturday night items were such a treat a couple of years or so ago), the "Three White Coons" (an outstanding combination from a broadcasting point of view), Mr. L. Probert, and others? With regard to the proposed chain of relay stations, it is my opinion, in common with a few other of your correspondents, that it would be much wiser to increase the power of the other YA stations to that of 2YA as, judging from the results of 2YA, it is practically certain that nearly every corner of New Zealand would be able to have a choice of two programmes at least. -For instance, in our district at present 1YA and 3YA fade very badly, while 4YA comes in very clearly and steadily, but very weakly, seldom loudly enough for speaker except with a very powerful set. Thus the advantages of increased power are easily seen, while the disadvantages of the relay stations would be that they could not provide an alternative programme, The many new wavelengths necessary would mean more congestion in an already crowded ether, Although a supporter of the Broadcasting Company, I must say that the exceedingly low power of three of

the main New Zealand stations places them hopelessly out-of-date in these days when other countries recognise high power is the thing-F.L.H.. (Waverley).