Are Sunday Broadcasts Dull?

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 51, 30 June 1933, Page 20

Are Sunday Broadcasts Dull?

Christchurch Likes Increased Hours, But Wants Brighter Music-Peter Dawson Chats Over 3YA-Woolston Band Popular on Radio.

HE extra hours that have been given to listeners on Sundays from YA stations have been greatly appreciated, but judging by the class of record put on last Sunday, it was only an extension of ‘the usual Sunday performance. What is wanted is 2.

good sprinkling of lighter records. Surely because it is the Sabbath day, it is not necessary to have all one type of record. There would be no desecration of Sunday in putting over a little brighter music occasionally. * * Miss PHYLLIS HOLLOW, M.A,, in her talk on "Impressions of

London," dealt especially with the means of transport. She spoke of the railway stations, the tubes, and the buses, the various parks and open spaces, the markets, such as Smithfield, Covent Garden, and Billingsgate % * 4 MANY listeners are wondering whet 8YA is going to: have the oppor tunity of broadcasting a B.B.C. programme without having it previousiy recorded at another YA station. Up to the present the North Island has had a full share of these programmes, 8YA has to be content with what is sentand when. There is no apparent reason why the northerners should be given preference over the Southerners. YA has arranged some interesting concerts for next week. An enjoyable evening should be spent on Monday, when the Woolston Band quartet will play some "select" music, and alsa a quartet from the Scottish band will play Scottish airs. These shouid provide a pleasant change. Bob Bradford’s Radio Sextette can be depended on to "send over" the air tunes that will find popular favour. Among the singers will be Julie Russell and the Rev. L. North, two very accomplished artists. BS % A PECULIAR effect has been noticed on the private line connecting one of the Christchurch Drainage Board’s automatic pumping stations with the central station. Whenever this station is dialed 83YA is clearly heard, although the lines do not run near the transmitting station. Will the Drainage Board be compelled to take out a receiving license? * * = A HIGH standard of excellencé characterised the programmes

from 3YA last week, the most notable events being the talk. by Mr. Peter Dawson, and a special presentation of "Waterloo" from Conan Doyle’s play of the same name. The presentation of this event was a first-class one in every way, good singing, including solos and quartettes, coming over the air clearly and distinctly. A feature of the programme was the splendid musie chosen for it, all of the items being most applicable. The parts were taken by Miss Kathleen Chapple, and Messrs. Allan Young, Harold Shaw,

and Major F. H. Lampen. Mr. N. G. Goffin played "The Last Post." Too much praise cannot be bestowed on Mr. A. L. Curry, the 3YA announcer, who so ably arranged the music. The whole performance was a "feather in the cap" of 8YA. % * *¥ "THE performance of the Woolston Band last Monday was well received, fine renderings of Plgar’s majestic "Pomp and Circumstance’ and Luigini’s "Ballet Hgyptienne" being recorded. This band has always given its services to any charitable object, and a movement is on foot for raising money to send New Zealand’s champion band to compete at some of the big contests, especially the one to be held in Melbourne. There should be no difficulty, if all the bands co-operate, in raising the desired amount of £1000. Woolston Band has been a- consistent performer over the air for about five years.

IGHTNING arresters are one of the worst offenders in preventing longdistance reception, as the following story will show. A Christchurch listener, finding that at times he was unable to get any stations other than the local, took the machine to the agents, who overhauled it and fitted a new set of valves. The machine proving no better he returned it for a further overhaul, without any improvement. The machine was then taken to a competent service firm, who announced that the set was in perfect order and not in need of any adjustment. The listener then took the machine to a third firm, which agreed with the second, but stated that the aerial or ground system was probably at fault. A man was sent up, and, as suspected, found the aerial with a poorly made joint in the lead-in, and a broken lightning arrester which was shorting the aerial to earth at times. When these faults were attended to the set functioned satisfactorily, * * * M&. PETHR DAWSON gave a great delight to many listeners when he spoke over the air from 3YA last week. Mr. Dawson and his popular manager, Mr. Jack Griffiths, spent a week of interesting trips around Canterbury,

‘ being taken on these journeys by Mr. W. Toomey, a regular singer at 8YA. The famous baritone said that he had had a wonderful time in Christchurch. The trees reminded him of the Old Country, and the weather had been ‘wonderful. He gave details of a trip to Akaroa, and of many interesting personages he met on the way. Speaking of Dick Arnst, whom he met at Tai-Tapu, he said he saw the champion world sculler row on the Thames when he defeated Barry. "The look of determination on Dick’s face that day I will never: forget," he said.