Dangers of Radios In Motor Cars

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 14, 13 October 1933, Page 21

Dangers of Radios In Motor Cars

Auckland’s Chief Traffic Inspector Suggests That Driver Might Neglect the Wheel to Manipulate His Set -- Is Frank Milner New Zealand’s Only Orator To-day?

XN these notes last week it was mentioned that many motor-cars in Auckland were already fitted with the latest specially designed radio sets. One who is distinctly not in favour of radio sets being operated from the front seats of cars is Mr. George R. Hogan, chief traffic inspector for the Auckland City Council. On Thursday evening last he reported to his council that on the latest models of American motor-cars provision was made for the installation of a radio set, the tuningin apparatus being fitted either to the steering-wheel or the dash-board. He said there was an element of danger in

the apparatus being attached to either the steering-wheel or the dash-board when the vebicle was in motion, as the driver might be tuning-in and not directing his attention to road requirements. As a safeguard, Mr. Hogan recommended that the attention of the Minister of Transport be directed to the necessity of all such installations being operated from the back seat of the motor vehicle. From inquiries which he had made it would appear that this alteration would in no way increase the cost of installation, and it would certainly prove a safeguard. The council decided to forward a copy of the report to the Commissioner of Transport. @ S 9 "TX New Zealand to-flay where are our orators?" asked Sir James Parr last week in the Town Hall, when paying tribute to Mr. Frank Milner, who was accorded a civie reception on his return from America. "Mr, Milner is to-day New Zealand’s only orator. The art of oratory has unfortunately decayed. I recall the eloquence of men like Sir George Grey, probably the greatest orator we ever had, Sir Maurice O’Rorke, Sir William Fox, and Mr. Scobie Mackenzie, The only man who approaches their standard is Mr. Milner." Surely Sir James forgot the gereatest orator of them all-the late Sir James Carroll, Also the present Native Minister, Sir Apirana Ngata! * * * A STUDIO presentation of the "Messiah" by the 1ZR Choir, under the direction of Mr, J.. Whitley McElwain. is to be the feature on Sunday, October 29, at 3 p.m. * * * "[ THINK there is a misunderstanding in many of these cases which should be cleared up in the public tnterest," said Mr. Wyvern Wilson, 8.M., in the Auckland Police Court last Friday, in accepting the explanation of a

man charged with failing to license a radio set and merely ordering him to pay costs. The defendant explained that he was told by a radio firm that so long as he had a set on approval and until he decided to buy one he need not take out a license. but could pay up the arrears when he did license his set. fe) te a ) AMONG the speakers from 1ZR who are giving a series of talks the most outstanding is Captain R. H. Neil,

who specialises in travel talks about the East. Captain Neil studied Arabic at the School of Oriental Studies at London University, and since then he has served for many years in the East and Middle Hast. He knows thoroughly the cities of Cairo, Jerusalem, Damascus, Constantinople, and Smyrna, He has also served in the Intelligence Corps and Arab Bureau at Damascus and Cairo, while for a long period ne served in Waziristan in North-West Frontier, India. Captain Neil’s last talk from 1ZR on "Confessions of a Hashish Smoker and Opium Eater" proved exceptionally interesting. a a 2 UP here in Auckland we are in the middle of the amateur, professional and open golf championships, which are being well covered by station 1YA. Night talks and summaries of the day’s play are given by Mr. Harold Black, while the champion of the last three years, Andy Shaw, has also contributed some fine talks from 1YA on _ the ancient game. Special provision (as outlined jn a special article in a recent "Radio Record’) has been made fo broadcast a stroke by stroke description of the finals, * * 2 D'Arcy CRESSWELL, son of a wellknown Christchurch soliciter and

an old boy of Christ’s College, who once shocked his native town by remuriing that it was the most un-English city in New Zealand, is to broadcast a talk on Sunday, October 8, from 1Y.A, his subject being "Modern E[ngi‘sh Poets." Mr. Cresswell’s talk shou'd be of unusual interest. In case you may have forgotten, he is a poet himself and the author of "Poet’s Prugress." Since his retnrn from Engiqnd about a year ago he has spent most of his time in the "Krewhon" country at the back of Canterbury, but during the last tavo months he has been visiting Auckland, He is at present busy writing a further yolume of "Pocet’s Progress." and is also working on an anthology of modern English verre, which he is labelling "Since Byron." o " s "urs year has been the first: time the P. and T., Department has allowed radio owners to take ont half-yearly licenses at 15/-. The move by the department was a yery popular one with those who found it difficult to raise the full £1/10/-, and no fewer than 8C00 persons in Auckland and suburbs alone took out six-monthly licenses. These expired last Saturday. All last week the officials at the Auckland Chief Post Office were kep+ bus‘ly engaged in renewing half-yearly licenses, the response being beyond all expectations. Set-owners are allowed 14 days’ grace in which to renew. oo 2 a AST week-end the transmitting apparatus of station 1ZS, which has been purchased by Radio, limited. was transferred to Radio Limited’s premises in the Commerce Building, Beach Road, where it will shortly be operated. Gc a 2 HE "Frivolity Session" provided over 1ZR every Saturday evening by "Uncle Cheerful Charlie’ is somoething right out of the ordinary. Each programme includes novel and surpris-

ing burlesques. The recent relay of the "attempt on the world’s hopping record" was an outstanding example of originality, judging by comments and inquiries since made. A big percentage of listeners were "taken in" by the burlesque. For the benefit of those listeners who are still in a quandary as to the genuineness or not of the relay, it is interesting to note that the’ part of the sports announcer was actually taken by "Uncle Cheerful" -bimself,. So now you all know. ...