The Year At 1YA

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 26, 8 January 1932, Page 28

The Year At 1YA

Many Plays , AS was the case in 1930, a feature of the broadcasts from 1YA was the comprehensive sports service, practically every variety of sports being covered. The announcing was in the capable hands of Mr. Gordon Hutter. Difficulty was again experienced in obtaining the co-operation of certain sports bodies for the relaying of sports, and it is hoped the new Broadcasting Board will be able to make satisfactory arrangements, , Many Interesting Relays. HERE was a large number ff interesting relays and rebroadcass of outstanding events both in NewrZealand and overseas. ‘These included a relay from Hokitika of a talk by the trans-Tasman flyer, Mr. Guy Menzies, in January; rebroadcasts of addresses by his Holiness the Pope and Signor Marconi from the Vatican, City in February; the opening by the Prince of Wales of the Empire Trade Bxhibition in Buenos Aires, and an account of the Oxford-Cambridge boat .race in March; relays of the Auckland Radio Exhibition in May; the ceremony of turning on the new turbines at the. Auckland Power Board’s station in June; broadcasts by the New Zealand cricketers via the London New Zealand radiophone service in August; and rebroadcasts of station WXAL, United States, in August and Septem-7 ber, and a relay of the civic reception to "Wizard" Smith last month. The entertainment side of the programme was well maintained. In spite of the copyright restrictions good progress was made with the development of radio drama. Some of the enjoyable plays presented during the year Were a dramatised version of "Hvangeline," "And So To Bed," "Treasure Island," "Joan of Are," "School for Scaudal," "The Price," "Destiny’s Door," "The Black Mamba," "The White Owl," "The Doge of Venice," and "Kirk-o’-Field." The last six were written locally, being the work of Dr. G. de Clive Lowe. Presentation of Plays. T is often said that lack of local talent is a deterrent to t\ improvement of broadcast programms in New Zealand. The copyright restrictions on plays have served one purpose; the excellent plays written locally prove conclusively that New Zealand, as well as having capable performers, has promising broadcast writers and producers. The development of this talent should be fostered by the board, and more inducement and incentive offered to the authors and artists. In Britain, the United States, Germany and Australia radio drama is a separate department in the programme organisation and each country has its own radio play producers. _ The instrumental part of the sta- ? activities was mainly in the hands of Mr, Harold Baxter’s Salon Orchestra, which succeeded his Orchestral Octet, and the orchestra maintained a high standard of performance, In addition to the excellent relayed recitals by the Auckland Municipal