Our Mailbag

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 24, 23 December 1932, Page 6

Our Mailbag

Amateur or Professional? HEN Mr. Merritt was, giving some of. his interesting experiences in League Cricket from "BYA on Monday evening, he stated that if a professional or an amateur made av outstanding score or took a generous number of wickets, the hat would be taken round for that player’s benefit. Now the point is, can the player claim to be an amateur after he has received money for taking part in his Saturday afternoon’s sport? Certainly not. He is as much a professional as any other man who receives wages from the

League,-

J.

P.

(Dunedin).

Questionnaire Thought Ambiguous, THE discontent of many listeners can be traced to the fact that results from the questionnaire have not been put into effect. A point worthy of notice was that no mention was made of dance music in connection with the "order of preference" items, so a large number voted for bands, meaning naturally, dance music and not brass bands playing mournful overtures, etc. A large number voted for "light orchestral items," trying to express a desire for exacily the same thing, ie, more bright dance music. Jn return, we have an increase in the ‘not very popular light operas, Gilbert and Sullivan, and similar distinctly overdone items. Briefly, all the present. discontent could be allayed if the board would admit that it made an error in the composition of its first questionnaire-quite a human thing to do-and break down. the present mournful programmes with‘thirty per cent. of dance tunes. This would also do away with any danger of a shortage of records for broadcasting purposes, as dance tunes are coming out literally by the thousends. Do you know of anyone strong enough to whisper to the board that pianos, carillons, and grand opera singers are extremely poor entertainment? You made a rather unfortunate ehoice in selecting the 2YA programme of December 7 as a sample of how the board is trying to cater for us., Al though it read all right, its place was taken by some society giying longwinded speeches, stressing obvious points with which we are already too familiar. Admittedly we do get a brief session of dance musi¢ occasionally, but this is put on late in the evening, when most folk are in bed. No, Sir, there is far too much mournful music. Whether it is classical ov not matters not a whit. What does matter is-is it bright and digestible? If it isn’t, then it is not fit fare for

broadcasting.-

Entertainment Lover

(Auckland).

An Unbiased Critic. EF JUL. thinks that I have any ulterior motive (I presume he thinks

{ am connected. with the trade),. ‘I can soon put his mind at rest.: I have absolutely none, nor am I even a nember of a "B" station club. As regards the vexed question of. Government control, I can only refer him to the "Radio Record" of November 13, 1931, page 3. aud leave him to puzzle it out for himself. Well-knowing the Govyernment’s genius for meddling in private affairs,

it would:indeed be surprising if it did not .have a large say in radio matters. Personally, I do not care who runs the service, provided it is well run and adequate. I am only concerned about 1YA’s evening programmes, which, at present, are no compliment . to the board. I say nothing about the other sessions, because, on the whole, they

are good.-

W.M.

B.

(Auckland) ,