STATIC

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 44, 13 May 1932, Page 7

STATIC

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SPARK

HAVE you ever tried earthing yourself for insomnia? A correspondent to an exchange writes as fol-lows:-Simply earth a thin piece of copper wire into the ground or tie it on to the water main. To the other end affix a penny. Place the penny in the sleeve of the pyjama and in elose contact with the skin; sleep ‘more refreshing and restful than that obtained by the use of drugs will then ensue. Stranger still, consumptives seem to spend restful nights by this means." I have not tried it, but if anyone does and finds benefit I would like to know. To keep some people quiet, I know they would want earthing altogether. I suppose that if the wife possesses pinching proclivities a halfpenny would serve the purpose. * * *

ME. EDITOR informs me _ that numerous replies already have been received in connection with my query: "Are B stations necessary?" and further informs me that it appears that my view is not at all popular. In good faith I explained that I did not think B stations were an advantage, and I still adhere to my guns. I am not biased, and am open to conviction. It is possible that there is some phase of the problem that has escaped me, but I doubt it. Readers are reminded that entries must be received before Wednesday, May 11. * % I TRUST that Mr. Voco’s appeal for new and untried talent will meet with the success it warrants. Nevertheless, it is to be hoped that some sort of test is made beforehand, as both 2ZW and Mr. Voco are too much appreciated to have the station made a laughing stock, although it is probable that all would enjoy the fun. The danger lies in the possibility of the able being associated with the ridiculous, to the disadvantage of the former. + * * HAD static not been so ear-splitting I would have enjoyed the more the talk on "A Glimpse of Kurdistan," given by Mr. W. M. Hamilton from 3YA. What was caught between the maxim-fire was extremely interesting. The progress made with organised government in road-making and other affairs should serve well the present-day Kurd. With the speaker, T too am apprehensive of what will happen when the Mandatory Powers leave ‘the country to its own resources, but I have no fear for the Kurd himself, He is the kind of ruffian that I like. When he strokes’ his beard and says he is a man he means it, and anything on this earth is at liberty to disprove the assertion. Yes, the Kurd will always do all right.

THE Wellington Boxing Association is to be congratulated upon its perspicacity in electing to vice-presi-dential office Mr. J. H. Owen, who has for his endeavours for wireless, earned the esteem of every listener jin the country. Mr. Owen is Wellington’s member of the Advisory Council to the Broadcasting Board, and if he is able to do one tenth for the noble art what he has done for radio, he will earn the’ thanks of every boxing enthusiast in the country too. z * * THE outstanding concert of the week was the performance given by the Wellington Symphony Orchestra, and relayed by 2YA. In picture

orchestra days it is doubtful if such a combination could have been assembled to so ably perform the four great works that we were given, and in that, we might bless the ill-wind that blew the "talkies" in. The two momentous works, Schubert’s Seventh Symphony and Rachmanioff’s Second Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 18, were numbers that most musicians had previously heard in snatches only per the disc, and the ovations accorded the performers for these must have been most gratifying. Tp) return home and find that his house had been ransacked was a sad finale to Mr. De Mauny’s triumphant

‘evening. In this connection I hear that the burlars had the wisdom to keep: the radio going to make sure that their victim was still conducting the concert, and was not suddenly on his way home. " * * "THE programme by the "Stars of American Radio," recently given in the States and broadcast throughout Great Britain, caused much comment. Some were ecstatic in their praise that it was the best programme ever transmitted by the B.B.C. Others quietly dubbed it the world’s worst rubbish. By the ecstacy of expression the B.B.C., the model for the world, would know the value of the comments. The programme of "Negro Spirituals" given in February, may have met with a better reception by the discerning British listener, although Americans don’t always do these well, according to some of the recordings that we hear. American radio in giving the listener what he wants, has made him a musical Moron, and the "Negro Spiritual" of the nigger of Haarlem, New York, does not represent the original. * a *® QZzw solved a problem that had | mystified everybody in explainng on Wednesday night how the Bagwash returned our clouts unmixed, unfrayed and undebuttoned. = * =

LYE to the exile has been made a vastly different affair by radio, as our own isolated people will acclaim. A friend, writing from the middle of Persia, tells me that although static is usually fearsome, he need only wait up long enough to get some of the wonderful European programmes. He is not required to wait so long either, as they do not dine in Persia until nine or nine-thirty. I am further informed that by listening-in he is becoming polyglot-but he had a penchant for foreign tongues. When he and I were closely associated, he could say "Good Luck" in at least twenty different languages. * a

Tt is warm enough in Persia. I have experienced the desert’s fiery blast when the temperature has been over 130 degrees in the shade. Three months later I have seen heavy frosts on the ground and felt a biting wind blowing from the Himalayas. If the engineer who has turned the nether regions into a city of desire (as recorded elsewhere in these notes) has not made the climate more equable than Persia, I would rather keep the lawyer and the doctor company: even if there is no broadcasting in Heaven. * + _* AN announcer lately had a_ night out, and arrived home with the milk next morning. On being asked

by his irate wife why he did not let her know he was not coming home, he replied: "But, my dear, I did, did you not hear me say "Good Night, EVERYBODY !!" . * * * ON reading a very interesting article depicting a day in the lives of their Majesties the King and Queen at the Palace, by one in close touch with the Court, I learned again that after dinner their Majesties, like millions of their subjects, like to listen for an hour or so to the wireless. The big loud speaker in the King’s room is turned on, but neither the King nor the Queen stays up late. At half past ten or eleven, the lights of the Royal Palace are dimmed, and the inhabitants settle down for the night. : x * & QGOMEWHERE or other I read that the first radio-fitted train has commenced running in Soviet Russia between Leningrad and Moscow, and the further interesting news that every cell in Russian gaols was installed with a loudspeaker. i latter fact was referred to by Mr. Norman Bentwich, in addressing a meeting of the Howard League of Penal Reform. It remains for listeners to evolve their own theories as to whether the recent discoveries of

radio equipment in Mt, Eden prison have any relation to the Russian innovation. Russian broadcasts are mostly "talks" and perpetration of these on prisoners seems unduly hard, and for those poor souls ‘who do not possess a couple of cottonwool plugs, refined cruelty. It is aitested that there was once a visiting parson to Mt. Eden whose Seripture readings grew immensely popular. Some even pleaded for repetition on the "spiritual" grounds that the padre’s breath was richly flavoured with an after luncheon nip of fine old Irish whisky! But seriously, the introduction of radio on trains is long overdue in this country, and what is to stop loudspeakers being set up in selected parts of the ferry steamers. In both instances they would be a welcome relief to the tedium of travel, which with ail modern amenities, is still a bore to those who travel much, and from the necessity of business. * = * you can pay too much for a radie set! A Napier friend of mine paid £185 for his, and when one of the local stations is operating, he cannot cut him out. Perhaps he pulls the wrong handle. = * x [HE Whangaparaurau Dairy Club Station is to be commended for two things. It accentuated the background noises so that we had no diffi-

culty in recognising them, It does not broadcast on Tuesday mornings. * * ‘THE visit to historical London with Mr. Von Haast (2YA) was one that would arouse memories in many listeners. To appreciate fully the beauty of anything, its experience must be shared. The speaker’s desire that intending traveilers should communicate with him, is an index to the never-ending joy that Mr. Von Haast has with recollections for company. * ® "THE cheery compliment paid by Fraulein Elli Beinhorn (2YA) to the aviation authorities in the advance. made in New Zealand in the last few years, although we ‘were very late in making a start, must have been gratifying to our fliers. I wonder if she were told how the City Council encourages the Aviation Club in Wellington? a D> * HE "Radio Service to Listeners" session from 8LO appears to be very popular. I listened to Mr. H. K. Love 2 week or so ago describe what he termed a "Pre-selector," which, if added'-to any receiver is guaranteed to make it more selective without impairing its efficiency. Mr. Love invited those interested to write for a sketch of the device, and within a week he received ‘over 500 applications from all quarters of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. THE information in respect to Argentina’s industries, given by Captain F. H. Billington (1YA), would have been heard with concern by: many New Zealand farmers. The butter production, now so immense, had its foundation by the enterprise of an erstwhile Waikato farmer. This gentleman, by introducing modern methods of herd selection and breeding, and by importing the first milking machines, opened the way, with unlimited labours, to a keen rivalry with our paramount industry, and eompetition with Argentine will be a serious factor in compelling this country with high-priced farms to more intensively pursue increased production. I was glad to hear the speaker remark upon the excellent quality of Argentine beef. New Zealand may take pride in the fact that one who was largely instrumental in the successful tyansport of chilled beef to the English market was a New Zealander. The housewife in England usually classifies beef in the following order:-Scotch, Argentine, Australian, Irish, Canadian (home kifled), and if New Zealand lLeef is obtainable, it is mostly used for soups. The "slink" that passes for prime beef in this country is like our bacon, atid can only be termed execrable. Captain Billington also told us of a trade we had lost through the competition from Paraguay-the export of apples to Argentina. The apple business has cost us so much to foster that all must revret to hear of markets becoming more circumseribed. cm * * LASTENERS to a B station down south were amused at the argument which followed upon a telephone call to the studio, wildly complaining of the programme, and would have been delighted to hear the argument continued. It reminded me of the occasion when. a Melbourne

station put a pet cockatoo on the air one Sunday afternoon. Cocky was supposed to be quite a respectable bird, but realising apparently he was being broadcast, he thought the time opportune to spread himself. He was promptly shut off, much to the disappointment of a large number of listeners. . ® 2 ® THE Rugby League authorities in Sydney decided that broadcasting running descriptions of their matches was adversely affecting their gates, and permission to describe the games was countermanded. ‘The position did not long prevail though. The broadeasting stations refrained from mentioning the League’s activities, and as a consequence one of the pest matches drew the poorest attendance for years. The following Monday morning the League officials rescinded their earlier decision. Why give racing so much free publicity here in New Zealand? & x * WHY is it that everybody loves a dog, descendant of a ferocious carnivorous animal? Is it because we admire attributes not common in ourselves? We don’t love monkeys, more because they cannot be trusted

than for’ the reason that we never like a poor relation. It is tike’s faith. fulness that excites our admiration. Yet, being a bundle of contradictions, we take it as uncomplimentary to be called a hound. Yet again it is because it is alleged that a Yorkshireman cannot be trusted that he is called a tike. So where are we? Anyhow, there is no doubt about the general love for dogs, and Mr. Wingrove’s information (2YA) that the police and the newspapers throughout the Dominion were co-operating with the Tail-Waggers’ Club came as no surprise. Branches of the club are bound to be formed all over the country, and every dog-owner should enrol his pal as a member. * * s NOTICE in American papers strong complaints by listeners of the system by which the evening hours of radio are left to the mercy of commercial broadcasts. The educational and informative matter has tended more and more, under pressure of the advertiser, to be squeezed into daytime hours, leaving the more luerative hours of the evening, when listeners are judged-to be at home, available for the advertiser, Noth-

ing ss allowed to stand in the way of commercialisation. Recently an operatie performance by the New York Metropolitan Opera Company was being broadcast by the. National Broadcasting Company. It was abruptly cut off before the end of the concert because the time limit had been reached, and the time was required for the sponsored programme, One of these cut-offs came while the orchestra was still playing. College professors, speaking on specialised subjects over the air, are inclined necessarily to revert {0 type and treat the radio audience as though they were a class-room from which their listeners had no chance of escape. This type of speaker, quite unknown to himself, is usually addressing thin air, after five minutes or so. For a radio speaker to hold his audience is the highest possible test of personality, character and presentation of matter. Some of these days I shall ask my readers , to indicate their view of the best speaker they have heard over the air here in New Zealand. HE Australian B_ stations are setting the pace. 2CH has completed negotiations with J. C, Williamson, Ltd., for the right to broadeast musical comedies complete. 2UW has secured the rights to broadcast recorded versions of operas in the Ricordi catalogue, and it is hoped that during the winter some of the Williamson Imperial Opera Company’s performances will be relayed direct from the theatre.