Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 7, 26 August 1932, Page 9

Our Mail Bag

Pronunciation. | ‘HE 4YA announcer says "eedyll" for idyll. The "i" is long as in pronouncing first personal pronoun singular. The Christchurch man makes the final nasal sound of Chopin much too broad, imparting an "ah" into what should be a very thin vowel-scarcely a vowel at all. He also says "vayliant" for valiant. All the announcers overlook the "h" sound in the final syllable of many German, Russian, Polish, and other names, such as Rubinstein, Tschaikowski, Paderewski. "Stein" is "shtine," "kowski" is "kofshky." In pronouncing Wagner, not only has the "ww" the "vy? sound, the "g" is almost "kK" It is right enough to pronounce "Haydn" as "Highdn," but not, I think, in the case of Mr. Hadyn-Wood. Similarly, though the composer of the "Last Waltz would pronounce his name "Vayber," the modern American composer is probably plain Weber-pro-nounced as spelt; Anglicised-or, as the Americans would say, "Englished."

-I am, ete.,

Clyde

Carr

(Wellington).

‘many of us, particularly those who do not enjoy a daily paper, news items are the most important feature of radio broadcast. Consequently you ¢an understand how surprised and disappointed we were to hear 2ZW announce on Saturday night that owing to the regulations forbidding it, they would not be able to in future broadcast their short-wave news items, which was such a feature of their programme. There is no doubt that this was the brightest and most comprehensive news broadcast put over the air in New Zealand or Australia-quite a contrast to the long, dreary readings on financial matters, conferences, etc., of the YA stations-and even exceeding in range and variety the famous "news flashes" from KFY. It is difficult to believe that the Radio Commissioners could have really intended to deprive listeners of such a valued and looked-forward-to broadeast, 4 News Broadcast. T

and I trust Radio readers will at once seat husv with a view to having the ob-

structing regulation amended.-

Listen

er-in

Takaka)

Children’s Sessions. AS anticipated, I drew some static from a correspondent in your issue of 11th inst., but beyond a rather violent attack on myself for daring to speak my mind, your correspondent did nothing to refute the faults which I pointed out. ~ , { did not blame all the Uncles. I only blamed those who were guilty, and I might go further and say that there is only one Uncle who offends with his "sloppy" asides to the Aunts, ete., but I do maintain that more than one of the Uncles offend by using words that no child can understand, The session is evidently intended for those under 10 years of age, and they cannot be expected to understand words used by "erown ups." If any of the Uncles or Aunts either care to take my criticism as personal, well I am disappointed in their intelligence, but I do hope that they will accept it merely as a hint. As a somewhat severe critic in the past of 2YA’s announcer, I would like to pay a tribute to his excellence as Uncle Jasper. His talk to the children always sounds sincere, and he talks to and for children only. I regret that I cannot, without being personal, tell your correspondent which Uncle it is I refer to mainly, but you would no doubt, Mr. Hditor, tell him privately whom I referred to in my last letter, and let him judge for himself. Re Sunday evening concerts from 2YA, do you not think that, say, once a month listeners could have a recorded programme similar to that given on Sunday afternoons. No doubt the relay of band concerts are popular, and whilst I never can listen to them myself, I do not complain, but I do think that such a programme as mentioned could be given once or twice a month.DX4T, "B" Stations Unnecessary. OUR editorial in the current issue of the "Record" on the plans of the Broadeasting Board in relation to the "B" stations is a tonic. We have "B" stations around us in this district. but we want the "A" stations. When we must depend on "B" stations we prefer to go back to the gramophone, where we can make our own choice. There is a noisy minority whose critical vocabulary is very much compounded of "tripe" and "tosh" with a good sprinkling of abuse. We are not inclined to aceept as "gospel" all that Captain Hickersley is reported to have said, We may as well add John Henry’s testimony, too. For the encouragement of New Zealand talent we are prepared for some amateurism.- (Wairoa). Two Editoriais. HAVE before me two editoriais, those which appeared in your issues of August 12 and August 19, 1932. . To avoid misunderstanding let it be stated at the outset that nothing which follows is intended as a eriticism of

the report of the Coverage Commission, to which little exception can be taken. Your editorial notes of the 12th places a:very unfortunate emphasis on the word "provincial" In London very much the same emphasis is heard with

regard to Manchester; in explanation you are of ourse aware that plays which succeed in London are fiascos in Manchester, but the point does not require any labouring. Your second editorial is frankly distasteful. The inference can not be evaded that those who are pressing the interests of "B" stations are interested from ulterior motives. The owners of "B" stations have been singularly silent in pressing their claims. The writer is representative of those who have appeared in print on this matter, and his sole interest is in securing for Hast Coast listeners a service which 2YA or any relay of 2YA eannot give. Where the new control of broadcasting is failing is in the advisory council, which already has given very clear evidence of its ineptitude. I refer to the proposed subsidy of stations in Paimerston and in Hamilton, both of which towns are closely knit with Auckland and Wellington commercially and in viewpoint, and would be covered by the proposed improvements in the major stations. I press again the claims of the Hast Coast. We are prepared to admit that it is probable we can be catered for by 2YA or by relay stations, but there are other considerations. Poverty Bay, Hawke’s Bay, and the Hast Coast generally is a separate entity, just as the West Coast of the South Island is an entity. We have nothing in common with Wellington, and we require our own service. To elaborate, there is no interest here in the deeds of Ath-

letic and Poneke, the politics of Iceland leaye us cold. So far as we.are cone cerned, 2YA could be closed down, ale though we would welcome the services of Mr. Clive Drummond, Geographically the Advisory Council was badly selected. This district, one of the largest in New Zealand, is totally unrepresented, and is suffering accordingly. No personal reflection is intended. upon any of the worthy gen tlemen selected for the council, but © certainly consider that: from lack of Jocal knowledge a most invidious position has arisen. In self-protection may I add that If will reply to no letters addressed to me Personally by members of the public whatever their viewpoint may he--

W. D.

FitzGerald

(Napier).

’ An Uncle’s Farewell. I SEE by the last R.R. that Uncle Jeff has left 2YA. I’ve no grouse at his leaving, but I have a bone to pick with 2YA, Uncle Toby, Aunt Daisy. and Uncle Jeff, favourites with the ehildren, do years of work and give hours of their time and then they either get pushed out or go on their own accord without one word of thanks or goodbye, and it is not known outside that Uncle Jeff has gone to 2ZW, unless one sees a small piece in some obscure corner of the "Radio Reeord." Aunt Molly says: "children, Uncle ---won’t be here to-night," and that is all.-N.Z, 12W. : Radio Drama, ALTHOUGH i gave an outspoken and decided opinion last week, there was nothing personal in my let ter but your two correspondents "Shiel G’ and "Bay of Plenty," abuse me, ard have not the decency to sign their names, I might descend to "Shiel G’ and "Bay of Plenty’s" level for a moment, and make personal ree marks, but decency restrains me, They are certainly entitled to their opinion, but I am also entitled to mine. "Bay of Plenty" says "that well over 90 per cent, of listeners would wecome a play of this sort at least once weekly,’ & very empty statement when he has not the least way of ascertaining tens of thousands of listeners opinions. My own personal experience is 100 per cent. against it, as among Over a score of radio friends, there is not one whe does not agree with my criticism, and some say I was not strong enough in my condemnation. Their "mentality" must be shocking. No "Shiel G" those flowers are not for me to pick, I prefer

orchids.-

H.

Vern

(Auckland).