STATIC

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 42, 28 April 1933, Page 8

STATIC

by

Spark

N continuation of his talk on the B.B.C. and radio in Britain, Mr. Charles HE. Wheeler (2YA) gave further examples of the wide ramifications of the giant corporation, Mention was made of the B.B.C.’s consternation when their travelling commet.tator failed to materialise at the appointed time. This important official’s duties are to travel through Europe, gain first-hand knowledge of current topics in the various countries, and by telephone circuit right from the coun try concerned, broadeast his observations throughout Great Britain’s neiwork. The lecturer was scheduled to speak from Geneva upon certain aspects that had occupied the attention of the League of Nations, which had considerable interest at the time, and all Britain was expectantly awaiting the relay to begin. That day, summer daylight-saving began, and the clocks were advanced one hour. and the B.B.C.’s commentator was nnaware of the change. x * . HE difficulties of arranging programmes for the Empire statiou were referred to, and it was mentioned that Zone 1, which covers New Zealand, was one of the hardest factors, not so much because of distance, but by reason of the time element. All celebrity concerts and most public functions are held at an hour in Britain when New Zealanders are asleep, but this obstacle was now triumphantly overcome by the development of the Blatt-nerphone-Stille method of recording on f& sensitised steel tape, and in future New Zealand listeners will be able to hear broadcasts of all the national events such as the opening of Parliament, the running of the Derby. and the functions that all the Empire is interested in, by recorded versions of the actual original broadcast. The recording enterprises of the B.B.C. are put to many uses, It was mentioned that it might be difficult to inform a brilliant scientist that his talk did not broadcast well-rustling of his papers, the prefacing Clearing of the throat, and a few other blemishes could be. however, dip: lomatically deprecated. when the sneaker himself heard a recording of the talk, , « 2 x ANOTHER difficulty experienced with respect to programmes for the whole Iimpire was the difference of temperaments of the peoples of the Empire, and while Clapham and Dwyer were acceptable artists to British stock. others would receive little amusement from their hilarious nonsense, and it was the endeavour of the B.B.C. to make their programmes wanted by all finds composing the [mpire. The improvement in television broadcasts were referred to, and Mr. Wheeler said he was convinced that we sre on the verge of seeing great developments in the transmission of visual objects, Pxcellent receivers. costing about £18 18/- were obtainable, and looking-in was rapidly becoming popular. The interference problem was being solved in England, said Mr. Wheeler. and demonstrations of apparatus to eliminate ‘stray untuned electrical flashes, had done much to educate machine operators to the value of fifting anti-inter-ference devices. J)iffienities are often most diplomatically handled. The Postal authorities willingly incorporate eliminating apparatus in tradesmachines for demonstration, and the neighbours generally express thanks for the respite from interference--the

result being that the apparatus is bought, although the tradesman is not usually pressed for payment. * tt * FURTHER episode in MajorGeneral B. S. Merlin's serial from 2YA, "Strange Adventures in Japan," dealt with an incense-sniffing ceremony at Count Morimotu’s residence. When the beautiful Japanese lady secretary learned of the attache’s intention to attend the function she was gravely itlarmed. Later she warned = the Colonel to refrain from sampling the offering that would be made by her brother, who coula be recognised by the family crest of three plantain leaves. Caution prompted the speaker to repair to a chemist friend, to whom his fears were imparted, and with many strange instructions a powder and a small phial of liquid were given the attache. After describing most realistically the landscape garden of the Count’s residence, with its lakes. canals and bridges, the General spoke of the strange comestibles offered 10 the guests-one of which-a’ gasping fish-was too revolting for the foreigner, who would rather have risked aw estrangement between Russia and Japan than eat a fish that was too fresh. The ceremony of incensesniffing proceeded and ultimately, in a cloud of smoke, the secretary’s brother's! burner was offered the speaker for nasal discrimination. when 2YA_fittingly petered out, with the MajorGeneral agitatedly fumbling for a powder and «a phial. e & a FROM 22W Mr. R. R. Wingrove, secretary of the Tailwaggers’ Club. delighted all dog lovers-that’s every-body-with some excellent advice as to how to bring up a dog-man’s _ best friend and the only true one that can be bought. The first of this fortnightly series dealt mainly with the puppy,

and it was mentioned that if anyone communicates with the club they will be advised of those proven foods which build up really healthy puppies. ‘The club also has a booklet whith will be sent to anyone forwarding one penny for postage, which contains a small mine of information available to owners. A truism stated by Mr. Wingrove was that from puppyhoocd upward the dog gives us his best--and that being so, we should do the same for him. The speaker gave four rnles Which should. have every dog-owner's attention-Be sure that the dog is free from worms: give careful attention te sanitation and ventilation: be regular and consistent in furnishing fresh water and proper diet: and administer medicine only under the guidance of experienced advice, 3 Oo bs] OME of Mr. Wingrove's satirical ad-vice-such as the following---was most amusing. Presuming that a boy’s best friend is his mother, it would be foolish to deny that man’s best friend is his dog, thongh he may in addition keep a wife and a motor-car. So keep a dog, and with that, one thing is cer-tain-you must keep the dog. The dog Will not keep you. Remember that barking is the dog’s natural way of talking, so let him have his morning’s yap--you probably have yours. ‘The natural instinet of a dog is to chase chickens. This provides good exercise for both beast and bird, but train your dog not to chase birds of a tough and uneatable nature. Teach him to judge a tender bird and reward him suitably when he brings the right kind home, If you take a pride in your garden, try to make the dog understand that paths are for walking on-beds are for sleeping on. Grow dog-roses out of courtesy to the dog. In dog-keeping, as in marriage, a license is necessary, and it will generally be found that in the

ease of the dog that it is money well: spent. : * ISTENERS were not disappointed when Mr. BE. W. Ackland returned to the microphone at 2YA to tell the truth about fishing. It was a happy thought to place the speaker on oath, for fish stories become tiresome when the company are not all fishermen. When they are all fishermen nobody tukes any notice, but that would ‘noi do for a broadcast lecture. Mr. Ackland mentioned that since Walton put lished the "Compleat Angler" many rears ago, there have been about -t0 editions, and those who don’t really know would think that should he tunple on the subject. Many thousands have written books sinee, an: yet there remains a field for further piscatorial speculations. Mr. Ackland dealt mainly with the art of fish-ing--that is, the e¢atching of fish, and remarked that the art, from Nekling to dynamiting, was a comprefiensive subject. It was said that "she persistent angler either became, a fisherman or a philosopher. et a O prevent further trifling exaggerations respecting fish, Mr. Ackland has constructed a scale on the inverted de Rougemont principle, by which the exact weight of a specimen can be determined at once. A fish caught ten days ago and weighing 16lb. when reference to the scale is made will probably measure up to 8lb. Inversely a seven-pounder on the scale would measure in three weeks something gigantic, but the scale would give the accurate fancied weight. When asked to furnish information in connections with the proposition that Mr. Ackland should join the "Fish Liars’ Society" he wrote stating that he told only the truth about fish. That was ample, and Mr. Ackland was forthwith made a life member. * o * MR. ACKLAND remarked ‘that the authorities are making it very difficult for anglers. At one time it was permissible to take trout measuring nine inches, but now the length has been increased to ten inches-his usual catch is just nine and _ three-quarter inches. The authorities also demand that fish shall only be taken by fair angling methods, and the speaker recalled an occasion when his friend Jack -fording a stream in a motor-car-caught sight of a neat ankle. The car swerved, scooped up an immense bhdy of water which gradually drained dui. leaving a three-pounder on the fifor. That was certainly not angling. but{the fish had not been taken from the water, for they had the water with them. Mr. Ackland is deaf, and so are carp, but he solved a mystifying problem recently. An angler downstream had cast and up flew a fish to a school, gyrating in & pool beneath the bridge where the speaker was standing, The fish's mouth was opening and shutting, and soon all swam off. Mr. Ackland’s solution is that fish ean lip-read.

KF $6 A Runaway Girl" Will be presented by the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society / On relay from the Si. James Theatre, Christchurch, from 3YA, relayed by 4YA, On SATURDAY, APRIL 29. t+ -«M