Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 44, 13 May 1932, Page 6

Our Mail Bag

OG. (Oamaru) agrees with "Weonomic" on the subject of heterodyning of KFI and 4YA, both of which are spoiled until after 8pm. 2YA and he thinks WGN also heterodyne. Could not both the YA’s be shifted? He would like to see the Dx Club establish 2 branch in Oamaru. "Tistener In," Wanganui, states he ean get both KFI and 4YA without interference. Programmes Inferior. HY are the YA programmes so inferior to those of last year? Surely. the Government are to blame; they muddle everything. Were it not for the Australian stations, which fortunately come in well, I would not have a radio set for five minutes. In this district 4RK swamps 1YA on its new frequency

even on the most selective of sets.

F.

Hausen

(Granity).

[The Government exercise no more control over radio now than they did Jast year. The programmes are provided by the Radio Board-a non-political body.-Ed.] I WOULD like heartily to endorse the statements of "Old Age" and Y. G. Bryan King (Dunedin) re religious services. A.B. (Wanganui) states that "churches and chapels are legion, and broadcasting stations are few." That may be, but surely he can derive enough satisfaction from six days a week secujar programmes, without wishing to monopolise Sunday for these also. Many people, who are quite unable to attend church on Sunday, look forward with keen anticipation to the church services over the air. In many ceses wireless programmes are their ole means of church worship. Do A.B. and W.H. (Inglewood) wish to deprive them of their 14 hours, a week, which, to my mind, is all too brief. In passing, why is it that from 1Zf, which is a comparatively small station, the power is stronger and cleurer than from 1YA? Several people in this district have complained of weakness of power from 1YA.-‘Curious." [Two things may cause 1YA to appear weaker than 1ZR: (1) Your nearness to 1YA may cause overloading to a point where signals appear actually weaker and more distorted: (2) geological or geographical peculiarities.Ed.] The Competition on the Farn. HE Music Lovers’ Competition is great. I am sure it is enjoyed by all. I am working on a farm, aad we have to rush the cows through, four nights a week, to enable us to be beside our loudspeaker at seven-thirty-five. I think the cows must know some of the tunes now, for they give their milk freely while I am singing to them. I would like to ask if it is the intention of the board to publish in the "Record," after the competition is closed, a list of numbers as they were played from each station. I would suggest that this be done, as half the fun will be in looking through this list and finding the tunes one knew, but couldn’t name.-C.7T.G. (Otorohanga). {It is the intention of the "Record" to publish the lists as suggested.-Kd. ] A Suggestion, AS§ an intending competitor in the music-lovers’ competition, I am interested in the manner in which the results will be made known. Don’t you think it would be interesting for everyona if, say, on the eleventh Monday,

Tuesday, etc., the station played all the tunes for a minute, announcing the title after a couple of bars? As there would be no need for the minute's pause afterward, it should not take so very long, and also it would give everyone, competitors included, an _ interesting musical switch gto follow. I think this competition has stimulated many lazy listeners to notice programmes more carefully, when their ignorance of the names of their favourite tunes has been detected by this competition. And quite apart funm tha ednestional asnect. it has been

jollv vood sport listening.-

M.G.

C.

(Clive) _

[See letter from C.T.G. and the footnote appended thereto. We understand from the board that it would be ‘difficult, if not impracticable, to replay the competition pieces as sug-gested.-Ed.] Cabaret Musicale. S a subscriber of years, I should like to express my appreciation of the improvement being made in some of the programmes. It would appear that some of the professionals have been allowed to show their individuality, the result being greater efficiency. I refer to Victor Lloyd and Wdwin Dennis.

Their efforts possess individuality, which is obtained only by their clever quips and continuity. Personally I prefer the more melodious musical numbers. Some of the concerted numbers were real gems, but I am convineed the more modern music and humour act as a contrast, making an enjoyable entertainment. I should like to hear another such programme by Edwin Dennis and company.-Listener (Levin). . Grand Organ Music. HERE are many lovers of the above class of music who undoubtedly would desire to hear one such-like item daily at least, from the four YA stations. Wurlitzer selections do not very much appeal to us, and those who are interested in that instrument are already catered for, but selections from the king of instruments are almost unknown from the four senior stations. I am not criticising the Wurlitzer product, for it is well adapted to the place in which it is erected and for the class of music simulated. I believe that the largest Wurlitzer is in the Roxy Theatrve, New York, and the second largest in the Melbourne State Theatre. It is not generally known, too, that this organ was invented by Thomas. an

Englishman, and is manufactured in the United States under the trade name "Wurlitzer," and not in Germany. Many:.. brilliant recordings of great British (and French) organists, playing on many of the world’s famous organs, duplicate almst perfectly, renditions of distinctive grand organ masterpieces by composers of everlasting repute, and the broadcasting of these reecordings would be appreciated by loyers of the mighty grand organ. The omission is evidently a pardonable. oversight, and as the board’s attention is now drawn to the matter, another improvement will become obvious very soon in the broadcast pro-

grammes.

A.A.

H.

(Otakiri) _

Heterodyning of 1YA. JN view of the fact that 1YA now heterodynes 4RK, Rockhampton, as it did orginally, would not a frequency of, say, 895 ke. have been more suitable than 902 ke.? ‘The American station could be tolerated, whereas naw 1YA‘s programme is spoilt for the gp tire eyening. Another thing, when is something going to be done about the serious heterodyning which occurs between 1000 to 1400 ke. approximately? Radio is growing more and -more indispensable. Surely the listeners deserve more consideration, seeing that their

money keeps the trade going ’?-

A.

W.

Holmes.

[Until the report of the coverage comission is to hand little can be done on the subject of heterodyning.-Ed. | Humour in the Programmes. WAS rather interested in a portion of Mr. Terrence’s letter printed under Mailbag Notes of April 28, where he complains of the: lek of humour from the B.C. stations. I would be inclined to say insufficient. To overcome this I would suggest one of the YA stations broadcast humorous items only. Certainly there is a percentage of listeners, "Dinkum" and otherwise, who prefer classical programmes. Let them bave the balance of the stations (plus the world). Lifeboat Jack the Sailor’s items from 2YA on Sunday night should be a guide to the powers that be. "That’s the stuff to give ’em." Give us one station broadcasting items of a similar nature, and complaints will immediately cease, otherwise we will be like Sherlock Holmes, perched on the knob, ready to legrope the odd items of

QUmOur chat niter cnrougn.

W. K.

Car

ter

(Tuai).

"British Manufacture." ARIOUS radios are now being \advertised in your paper as heing "British built." A radio of foreign manufacture does not become "British" because it is unpacked and assembled in New Zealand. England is the best customer for. New Zealand’s produce and Ingland is at present spending £40,000 of British money building a station for providing New Zealand and other Dominions with radio programmes. It is scarcely playing the game for New Zealand to prepare for receiving these programmes by buying American radios or American converters. Advertisers should be prepared to state that their machines are "all British" manufacture if they desire to benefit by the growing Empire spirit, and the people should insist on nothing less.-

J. E.

Horsfield

(Martinborough).