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Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 47, 3 June 1932, Page 7

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SPARK

2 N example of terseness in announcing, which could with advantage be emulated by others, ‘was given by Mr. Ipana at 2ZW. Although it might have been termed cryptic it was quite clear. " ts x "THE first hole in 1YA’s programme -designated ‘"Reserved’’-was well filled when Professor Compton, ‘of Chicago University, was secured to speak on "Physics." The Professor traced the search for truth from the days of Pythagoras, Socrates and Plato, to the period which followed Ajexander’s conquest of the East, when for a thousand years Europe was steeped in blighted ignorance and Eastern mysticism. With Galileo came the renaissance of scientific investigation, and _ the speaker briefly told of the great men who had made excursions into the cause of natural phenomena, right up to the discoveries leading to the modern miracle, wireless. So rapid has been the application of scientific research to the needs of modern society that physicists especially have an enormous task ahead to maintain the expedition. % * a HE National Broadcasting Company of America has discovered that educational sessions have an attraction, and jazz inanities have been compelled to retire a few steps. Departments have been formed within the company’s organisation to co-operate with recognised educational institutions to form listening groups. This new departure is virtually an ambush in order that advertisements may be fired at listeners with machine-gun effect. The big American concern ‘does not descend to sharp-shooting, having learnt that such tactics annihilate goodwill. Sharp-shooting is left to Australian B gtations. When things were movin# in the N.S.W. political world recently, I sat down on an Australian B station that was tumbling in the best of all, to hear the news, and this is something like what was received: "His Excellency Sir Philip Game sent for Mr. Lang to-day; and let me remind you that at fourpence a pound, Smith’s sausages are the best in town. Mr. Lang was informed that his instructions to flout the Federal law could not be condoned; and here I would put the men on to a good thing. Brown’s blucher boots at 12/- per pair are wonderful bargains. Mr. Lang advised the Governor that he did not intend to withdraw his instructions; and, ladies, here is something for you;. Casey’s ‘Calamity’ corsets, Australian-made and fit where they touch, are now

selling for 7/1134.’ If Sydney people retain any goodwill for this particular B it must be for the reason that the address of "Uncle" is frequently given. In these exceptional days I suppose that is a real and a kind service. * % * N New Zealand the authorities controlling radio intend to see that broadcasting does not become a harridan. All the whimpering of baby broadcast stations will not deter the authorities from checking the wayward. There is only one thing that matters in broadcasting, and that is-What is best for New Zealand? s Ey Ld ’ "THE W.E.A. lecturettes by Mr. L. C. Webb (3YA) on "Political Institutions in New Zealand’’ promise to be enlightening. In his first of the series attention was drawn to the fundamental changes that have taken place in the function of Governments in the last eighty years. It was stated that John Stuart Mill would have been amazed at some of the laws placed upon the statutes

during the last twelve months. The normal man of to-day is amazednever mind the creator of the phrase "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance." The speaker foresees the day when our legislature has available at all times expert knowledge and when grandmotherly considerations will be the function of local bodies and county associations. Surely the W.E.A. is doing a great work, and profit must accrue. * b YA’s. last surprise item was a surprise. It would surprise me to hear that half a dozen heard it out. Mr. announcer would have brightened it up. So would have "Mr. Community Sing." * * = S there any reason why the general taxpayer should be under compulsion to support radio? The reason I ask this is because I understand the Banks Peninsula Electric Power Board is again dealing in radio equipment. Now that power boards have outlived their usefiulness, is it not time the Associated Chamber of Commerce and the Elec-

trical Trades Federation insisted upon the Government disbanding these honoraria-seeking brotherhoods? 20 * * a "TZ AURI GUM" was the title of the talk scheduled for Dr.-E. Marsden, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Scientifie Industrial Research, from 2ZW, as the last of the series, "New Zealand Industries." Indisposition still pur~ sues Dr. Marsden, and his paper was required to be read by a deputy, who turned out to be Mr. Editor. An analagous industry to the. kauri gum, it was pointed out, was the cultivation of the indigo plant which died in more ways than one, ‘ Syne thetic dyes and gums are uniform in quality, and the industries are backed by large scientific organisations which advertise extensively. Dr. Marsden’s opinion is that the tejuvenation of the New Zealand industry will need co-operative activities, which.I think is axiomatic, and, I hope, will not require Government assistance. If anything is done to dig gum out of the slough, Gracie Fields should be invited to join’ the advertising branch.-‘Ee, by Gum!" cd Ped Bd qt is asserted that the country. which beats all others for radio piracy is Turkey. This I can believe. The gentleman with the . baggy breeches who has paid a license fee was probably a pirate before he was caught, and when confronted by the inspector remarked with Mohammeden stoicism "Allah wills!" I won der how many know why the Turk wears the full-buttocked bags? . . % be) ™ QNE family that I know regards 2ZW with some disfavour, although this is outweighed by the pleasure derived from that bright station. They live almost under 27W’s aerial, and twelve months ago were able to receive 3YA undisturbed with their obsolete set, which is accounted almost an _ heirloom. Many servicemen have explained the reason of the receiver’s unselectivity; and they are never asked to call again. One, more diplomatic though, has established himself. He informed the family that being so close to 27,W the aerial becomes magnetised, which explanation is agreeable. The later sets, he stated, have filters to overcome magnetised aerial difficulties, and he now entertains hopes of a sale. ™ ¥ By I WONDER what old Londoners think of some of the latest re cordings of Albert Chevalier’s songs. The perpetrator surely does not im-

The Week’s Best Par. TATTERSALL'S prize of 5/- goes this week to ‘Rangatira," of "Windyridge," for the following:‘JUST recently some fellow was writing to you advocating introducing wireless on the Lyttelton ferry boats. When I heard Clive Drummond announce the other evening that my namésake on the Wellington-Lyttelton run had arrived at the latter port some three hours late I wondered how many of the passengers wauld be sufficiently interested to sit up and take notice of a broadcast programme. The papers tell us there were only 200 passengers aboard the ship, but notwithstanding the stormy conditions a big percentage rolled up for breakfast. My sympathies (as ever) were with the minority, and this fellow feeling recalled the lines of a parody of a well-known old song, one verse in particular it would have been too cruel to broadcast:"My luncheon lies over the ocean, My dinner lies over the sea, My tumamy’s in such a commotionNo thank you! No breakfast for me." THIS is a weekly competition for the best ‘‘par’" on a radio topic, preferably but not necessarily with a humorous bias. | Paragraphs on any radio topic treated with brevity and point may be submitted. Address letters to "‘Spark,’’ c/o "Radio Record," P.O. Box 1032, Wellington, to reach here Saturday morning.

agine-he is improving. -.Chevalier,. whose delectable artistry made him @ warm favourite wit: Musie Hall audiences throughout the length and breadth of England a generation ago. Gus Elen, another Cockney. singer, unlike Chevalier, had no. appeal out side the Metropolis. Even: Harry Lauder did best with the freely responsive London audiences and was not welcomed in Glasgow. I was at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool when the Lancashire roughyeds would not allow Lauder to perform. London audiences are probably the easiest to satisfy and Manchester the hardest, although I have seen some notable performers come down bump in Cardiff, where great artists declare the people are wooden. Paderewski selected Manchester for the scene of his first performance in England, asserting that if he could please Manchester he could please the world. The individual who renders Chevalier’s songs should have been restrained by the record-makers and, failing that, the broadcast stations should discard the recordings in favour of those that resemble Chevalier. Some of the imitators are really clever. we * TA PPARENTLY the appeal of Dr. J. S. Elliot for funds to enable the Smith Family to send children

suffering from the effects of malnutrition to the Otaki Children’s Health Camp did not fall on deaf ears. The seven shillings requisite for a week’s sojourn at the camp is a deal of money to most these days, and the Doctor solicited the generous to club together to make the necessary contribution. "Mr. Heigh-ho" informs us that children themselves have raided their money boxes, and thus have many little folk been assured of the opportunity for a return to

health and strength. The well of charitable duty has still to be coaxed nevertheless, for I understand there are hundreds of deserving cases on the Smith Family’s list yet to be dealt with. = 2 Py OW that the personnel of the Commission to control Australian broadcast programmes has been announced, boxing enthusiasts are hopeful of hearing of the finalisation of arrangements for contests to be

broadcast from the Sydney National Sporting Club’s arena. Some of the world’s greatest draw cards have been booked for Australia by Mr. . Hugh D. Meintosh, and dxers in New Zealand are looking forward to hear something besides concert or dance programmes late on Saturday nights. © ¢ LJ A SERIES of four talks on "The Mind of: Post-War Europe" was begun by Dr. Ian Henning from 2YA on Saturday, with France as the first country for review. The lecturer has the conversational style most suitable for the microphone and the material transmitted is pleasantly received. In analysing the mood of the French literary. section in conjunction with the political and economical situation it was contended that the French were apprehensive of their culture’ being

annihilated by the large foating population of foreigners. = ‘ cd sz HE British-a colonising ~and commercial nation-were still megarded in France as barbarians and in business could still be perfidious. They cannot reconcile German culture and German military ruthlessness, and the speaker recommends foreigners to take stock of themselves if they feel inclined to view the situation from their own national standpoint. My personal opinion is that the French are more Chauvinistic than any other nation and colour is lent to this by their colonising attitude. No. French colony is a place for French residence,. but is merely a venue for the collection of the wherewithal to better enjoy the offerings of France itself. It is quite possible that "Jacques" takes too much notice of the remarks of foreigners upon the meritriciousness of the Palace of Versailles, and the questionable allurements of Montmartre. I cannot imagine the stolid Britisher taking offence at French distaste of the Albert Memorial. Dr. Henning is splendid, and listeners, whether W.E.A. students or not, cannot afford. to miss him. 2 * = TTHE talk by Mr. J. C. Brougham (1YA) on "War Time Spies" and reference to the "Kelly Gang" will recall to many old soldiers some crimes credited to that crowd of jail-birds, which might possibly have been instances of embittered men getting their own back. Of all the spies that operated in Britain none intrigued the public more than {Mata Hari". The ~om de guerre is .palay -‘Eye of Day’-the sun, but what the sorceress had to do with Malaya I do riot know. She was of mixed blood and some of it was Burmese, but Burma and Malaya are quite distinct and there’ is nothing common in the respective languages, . . x % x N acquaintance of mine was arrested in England in the early days of the war as a German spy. He was Melbourne born, educated at the Melbourne University, and the last time I saw him was some years prior to the war, on the eve of his departure from London to Bolivia. A letter from him twelve months later contained the information that he was Gencralissimo of the Bolivian Army, and affianced to the Presi-

Frank Crowther’s

Novelty Orchestra

will make its radio debut from 2YA On Tuesday, June 8.

dent’s daughter. His flat in London. was like a ladies’ boudoir, but there was nothing effeminate about my friend. He could show over thirty gun-shot and spear wounds gathered in the service of Britain’ the wide world. over, although his name was as German one, * = ® I UNDERSTAND that the tramway strike in Christchurch tas corn in Egypt for radio, not so much because of the possibility of getting red hot news from the front as for the reason that a large number of people found it impossible to go out after dark. Dxers living near the tram routes also heard stations that . they had previously never heard of. R e * qt has been announced in the Press that Mr. L, E. Strachan, of 2ZW, has resigned from his position at that station. Every listener will hope that the announcement is premature or trust that this very proficient gentleman is not to be lost to broadcasting. There is no one on the air in New Zealand to-day more versatile, or with a more fitting training behind him than our accomplished Mr. Heigh-ho. e 8 bd HEN the New Zealand representative Rugby football team visits Australia later in the year, we shall, as on a previous occasion, be able to hear a running description of three games scheduled for contest in Sydney. The Broadcasting Board has, at very substantial cost, completed arrangements for the narratives to be transmitted by short‘wave, and the YA stations will rebroadcast. Owing to divided control of radio in Australia, such arrangements are not as easily made as one might imagine, and listeners should* regard the achievement as a meritorious one. + * + YB recently gave their listeners a request item night and suddenly became aware that the statien is a very popular one. Requests were so numerous that the officials were literally snowed under. The success of the innovation has almost made the little band of open hearted disinterested workers conceited. * 2 e D PITE wireless piracy in Great Britain, well over half a million additional licenses have been issued during the last twelve months. This is presumed to be the result of an intensive campaign by the postal authorities to track down unlicensed users. Over a thousand prosecutions have been made lately and those who have previously risked it have apparently become apprehensive.