Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 1, 15 July 1932, Page 9

Our Mail Bag

Recorded Talks, ME. JOHN BUCHAN’S record on "he Life and Work.of Sir Walter Seott" was much enjoyed here, and. we are looking forward to hearing the others, The same evening, June 30; I heard a recorded speéch by the Prince of Wales-this was given from 2FC-and I should like to hear it from

the New Zealand YA: statians.-

E.M.

B.

(Wellington).

Organ Recitals. I WISH to express my appreciation of the organ recitals by Mr. Arthur BH. Wilson. It is not often one has the opportunity of hearing such a

talented organist, and I am sure ais many listeners will be pleased to hear him broadeast again=--A. Charlotte (Wanganui). Demonstration Seis. 'T’O those who are intending to buy a radio, I give a word of warning.: Stipulate to your dealer that the set must be &@ brand new one, not one that has been used as a demonstration set for the last six months. I know of a person who has been kept supplied in radios by dealers for over six months now, and that person has positively no intention of buying a set. Another person whom I know well had a set thrust upon him; he has had it for two months now. Still another has had up to four sets in the house at once. Surely these are not all demonstration sets (which are supposed to be sold at a reduced rate at the end of their usefulness for that purpose), so that when some unsuspecting, purchaser buys what he thinks is a brand new radio it has really been in half-a-dozen other homes for a period of some months, So purchasers beware.-Fair Play.

. A and B Stations. HAVE for some time past read with great interest your paragraphs re the "B" stations. First, take the "A" stations.. The Broadcasting Board sent out voting

ecards for all listeners, and these were to be obtaitied when listeners went to renew their licenses. The cards had to be requested, and if anyone did not know of their existence, they in all probability did not receive one. Now that all the cards are in, cannot the Broadcasting Board give some encouraging announcement as to what they intend to do? What would any listener outside the reception area’ of 2YA do until 3 p.m. each day with no "B" stations operating? They do not interfere with the "A" stations. I think the "B" stations are very much needed, and they are much appreciated. It would in return be. only justice and acknowledgment on behalf of listeners concerned, if not all, if they openly expressed their views in the right quarter. I think the old policy should still exist, "Live and let live." Surely the "A" stations are not going to have the monopoly of the air, and there is enough relaying done in the South Island now, where "A" class stations are concerned, ‘and there is only one programme from three, 3YA, 4YA and 4ZP, on Saturdays and Sundays. Would it not be better for each "YA" station to have its own programme and allow the "B" class stations to relay to distant listeners — Chas. H. Les, 59MC (Christchurch), Club Broadeasts. "THE New Zealand Short-wave Club was, I believe, refused permission to broadcast notes of interest on the grounds of interference and that the matter given out was not of sufficient interest. Yet we find that the Post and Tele graph Department has given permission to the amateur transmitters to give out each week what is a purely advertisement campaign for the sale of a newspaper and a list of stations. Now, sir, if the N.Z.S.W.C. or the DX Club, which societies are doing for the listener what the transmitters have never attempted to do, are not permitted to be able to broadcast educational matter instead of this blatant propagarda it shows that radio matters need an overhaul, A sampaign should be conducted so that no one branch of radio should be given preference, Also, if one publication can be advertised over the air, why not ethers?

Naturally the subscriptions that the N.Z.8.W.C. and DX members are paying are a bait, but this should have been thought of before. Both these. societies have done remarkable work for the listener, and it is hardly a fair proposition, after so much good work has. been done, for the Post and Telegraph Department to give another society such a preference; and members of both clubs should insist on receiving a fair deal, which should be their

right

Justice for All

(Masterton)

i ee The Referendum. [t is now some time since the voting closed on the questionnaire or referendum,, and might I ask when are we to know the result? "Quadrant" says he has received two letters from people who evidently appreciate the players re-

cently broadcast from LYA, and are asking for more. In answer to this, "Quadrant" says the Broadcasting Board has received more adverse comment about plays than any other items broadcast. This may be true of Auckland, I know not, but this I de know, that toward the end of last year the beautiful romantic play by Lytton, "The Lady of Lyons," was broadcast from 8YA, and was most successfully received and enjoyed by a very great number of listeners. The question is, are the board to dictate the programme or are the listeners? Is art to be raised or lowered? If the greater number: vote for jazz or so-called humour, what sort of programmes are we to expect in the future? It is all very well to say it is vox populi, but remember the others who are not in the majority have to be eatered for. The other day Lord Bledisloe pleaded for a better class of entertainment to be given by the talkies, Perhaps the plea would be more efficacious had he asked the people not to attend talkies until an improvement had taken place in the stuff presented to us, The management are pretty good judges of the public taste, and will put on what draws. They are not anxious to put on stuff of a questionable nature; it matters not to them; but what does matter is the box office receipts. The YA’s are quite different; their aim and object should. be not to make money, but to. educate the public by putting first-class programmes in the different

branches of art.

Eros

(Christchurch).

Programme Improvenients, ,VERYONE seems to be severely criticising everything lately! The YA’s have come in for much criticism, some destructive, some constructive. The overlapping of sessions is annoying, especially at six o’clock, when one often gets the children’s session, the chimes, and the dinner music © all jumbled up together. This could surely be easily remedied by more vigilance. The absence of so many sopranos has been a welcome relieflet’s hope it’s permanent! I really believe that there has been a general improvement. The introduction of: Mr. Crowther’s novelty dance orchestra has. been a very popular feature, and listeners are asking for similar permanent orchestras at all stations, as well as a longer dance session on Saturday night. Why not start the dance session earlier, for the conveni-. ence of country listeners? The question of the "B" class stations still provokes varied suggestions and criticisms, They are giving great (Continued on page 18.)

Our Mailbag

(Continued from page 9.) service to listeners in remote towns, where they provide free service to listeners paying 30/- a year. A general increase in power of the YA’s has been suggested by corréspondents, and I understand that 2YA can go up to 30 kilowatts, but that 1YA, 3YA and 4YA cannot be so boosted without rebuilding the whole station, 2¥YA is some times spoilt by static: here, so an inerease in power tvould be welcome. As for our radio. announcers, I am sure the YA ones equal any Overseas. Mr: A. L. Curry is very popular here, and his "Good evening, HVHRYbody!" imparts an individual touch. Whether running over the shipping (with a big list of catchy names), or the price of fat sheep at Addington, Mr. Curry keeps up the pace, with the clock trying to race him to 8 p.m. But never a stumble or a word retracted. --The Maoris-of Christchurch admire his

pronunciation of their difficult language, and Mr. Curry is therefore an "authority" for settling ‘disputes between listeners. But to pass on. The question of electrical interference with radio reception is receiving attention in Christchurch, as readers may know. Listeners are desirous of some swift action on the part of the P. and T. in co-operation with other authorities concerned. Power interference is seri: ous, even 3YA being "blotted out" in some districts. The radio inspector says he is powerless, so many radios have been sold or exchanged. for gramo-phones,-DX28MC (Christchurch).