Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 16, 28 October 1932, Page 8

Our Mail Bag

Answer to Correspondent. JR.: The Board. desires that the morning services shall remain dmpersonal, Times for Lectures, OULD it not be arranged to have lec- ’ tures at different times at all YA stations? The other night I wanted to listen to two lectures from two different stations at 9 p.m.-how ‘is it possible to do that? On the same evening there were two interesting lectures, from two stations at 7.30 and 7.40, and how can one listen to both? The lectures lately have been extremely interesting, and it is a pity to miss them. Again to-night are two interesting lectures at 9 p.m., both of Which I should like to hear. I see that next Tuesday there are to be three good lectures at ‘9 p.m. ‘A. news section at 10.15 a.m. from BYA, would be very acceptable. I agree with "Nuf Sed" that a "request night" occasionally would be successful. I do not agree with M. B. Signal, as I consider the music during the day very ' good.-"Listener" (Timaru). Literary Competition. WOULD like to place on record my appreciation of the literary com-. petition, which was even more interestine than the "mnsie lovers." We are

lookine forward +o the text one-

~Mrs;

G. H.

Taylor

News Sessions. I QUITE agree with "NZ1i3W" that it would be better if two of the A stations were to give their news sessions between 6 and 7 p.m. This would make it possible to have music from the A stations from 6 p.m. until closing down. In Dunedin, especially on a Wednesday night, it is impossible to get a local station with music between 7 and 7.80 p.m. This is frequently the ease on a Thursday night too. Are there not quite a few others who are of the same opinion?-ZL4, Younger Generation Calling, ii QUITH agree with M. B. Signal’s remarks re more dance music. As Mr. Signal said, the highbrows are too well

eatered for. Why not consider the younger generation by way of a change. One gets very bored listening to nothing else but movements, sopranos, basses, light opera companies, and Berlin State Orchestras. 2ZW knows how to cater for all classes of music lovers -there is nothing monotonous about its programmes. Why can’t 2YA do the same? We have to pay for our receiving license as well as the highbrow, so why can’t we get our share, too?-One of the Younger Generation. Radio Plays. I NOTICE in this week’s "Record" that once again we are to have a radio play, on a Friday evening. Hach time one of these popular plays, either by Will Bishop or Victor Lloyd, etce., is broadcast, it seems to be on a Friday. Could not these sometimes be arranged for any other night? I, for one, have to work every Friday, and I am sure there are hundreds of listeners in a position similar to mine, who on this account are never able to listen to Friday broadcasts, I sincerely trust that the next broadcast of a play will be on one of the other nights, and give these workers and others who have to shop on the "long night" a chance

to listen.-

A. A.

Pond

(Dunedin).

The Advisory Council. THE autobiographical information furnished by your correspondent, Mr. I. Meltzer, is most interesting. I accept his explanation as to how he obtained his patronymic-that is quite feasible-but I am afraid he is too optimistic when he speaks of Providence having been generous to him in the matter of wisdom. Providence would hardly regard that claim as a compliment. Mr. Meltzer does not sense the .connection between his name and _ the merits of the Council. The answer is that there is exactly the same conneection as between his absurd remarks and the merits of the Council. Mr. Meltzer should write about matters of which he knows something instead of attempting to pose to your readers as an authority on things of which he cannot possibly know anything. In brief, may I add, for the benefit of Mr. Meltzer and your readers generally, that the Broadcasting Board has the executive control of broadcasting. The Advisory Council’s function is to tender advice on certain matters; that advice may or may not be accepted by the board, but, as the discussions of the Council are private, it follows that Mr. Meltzer is not in a position to criticise either the Council or its advice. He is, of course, perfectly entitled to criticise the policy and actions of the Broadcasting Board, hut I suggest to him that such criti-cism-should be confined to such policy or actions and that contemptuous references to the personnel might well

be omitted.-

F. T.

Davis

(New Ply-

mouth)_

The Choral Eight. ‘VARIOUS readers have written in . giving 2YA hearty pats on the back for their good programmes they have put over. I for one would like to know when these "good" programmes were brondeast, for, taking them as a whole,

we are fed up with what they send out, but we have to listen or close down and await Sydney, as neither of the remaining YA stations come through well. Last Thursday the entertaining items put over by Frank Crowther’s orchestra were very much enjoyed by us all, but how wearying it was to ‘have to sit out the Choral Hight. Individually they were moderate, but as a combination they failed-their voices clashed. They cut off Frank Crowther and. Co.’s last item, an item which promised to be the best of the evening. Probably Frankie had an engagement at the Majestic, the dreary talks and the Choral Hight putting the time beyond his limit. Last Saturday (October 15) was one of the dullest programmes we have ever heard. Static was too bad to get elsewhere. I hope we shall soon get a list of these pro-gramme-arrangers-they certainly do not know their job Reader (Wanganui). Reform. OUR editorial notes and Quadrant ‘make very interesting reading. Personally I think the talks introduced into the programme are a decided improvement. As you suggest, a lot depends on the lecturer’s manner. As far as 8YA is concerned they are of a very high standard. Sometimes the subject as announced does not appeal to me, but usually the lecturer makes all the difference. When a subject does not suit me I do not complain but let the other fellow have an innings, We switch over to another station until it is finished. If one is used to dxing any old time from 6 p.m, to 5 a.m. one gets used to static and fading and listens only to the portion one supposes is put into the microphone, until the objectionable item at home is concluded. Quadrant’s notes are at times a little too critical, or should I say sarcastic? Some of the notes annoy me, but I suppose Quadrant does not worry very much about that. I do not like to hear him speak unkindly of 3YA, but if he could send along a good strong bomb or a few gallons of laughing gas it might do some good. I tried on one occasion to introduce a different type into one of our early evening sessions, but seemingly it was not appreciated. Recently .there has been some improvement, so one must not complain. Our Mailbag is an interesting page, but perhaps a little contradictory. Your correspondents. from Palmerston North and Waverley will find the programmes fairly monotonous if they listen-in'all day. In any case, they are both wrong. Some mornings we hear a lecturette on how to apply powder, the best material to wear next the latest lace frocks, about corns and various other similar subjects. Some afternoons we get a kind of women’s W.H.A, session. These lecturers have nice, sweet, musical voices, but you can't eall it jazz, but on second thought, it might -be possible to include it in the classical hour. I appreciate good music, but too much of a good thing is not good for anyone, and "a little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men,"Reform (Christchurch),.