Dunedin Has Choice of Radio Fare

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 17, 2 November 1934, Page 37

Dunedin Has Choice of Radio Fare

Five Local Stations on the Air Every Saturday Night — Surprising Reply to Telephone Call to 4YA Studios — Householder Leaves Radio and Electric Stove Switched On For Three Days.

LTHOUGH one of Dunedin’s B stations has definitely ceased operations, there are still seven stations left to earry on the good work, and on Saturday nights five of these may be heard working at the one time. Three of them rely almost solely on gramo phone records for their entertainments, so that listeners are afforded a fairly wide choice of this type of matter, but the other two have something ciffer ent to offer. One, the main station, usually either has its own studio concert or relays that from Christchurch, while for the past two or three Saturdays the remaining station has carried out a relay from a popular dance in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. The musie played by the band in attendance at this dance is of a varied char. acter, embracing both new and old-time numbers, so that listeners are never bored by hearing too much of the one class of music. Tif} counsel, officials and constables were wandering aimlessly about the Dunedin Supreme Court last week waiting for the jury to return with its verdict, when news was received that the De Havilland Comet, piloted by Scott and Black, was expected to reach Melbourne in ten minutes’ time, This somewhat relieved the monotony of the forced delay, but impatience for further news as time went on was soon experienced, and finally one of the number was persuaded to telephone to 4YA to ascertain. whether or not the aviators had made contact with Melbourne, Accordingly he dialled the station’s number, and, after pausing a few seconds for the connection, was astounded to hear a mild voice say: "STF you -will possess yourself in patience, madam, you shall hear any information that comes to hand." The explanation of the incident is this: For some time during the afternoon a station official had remained at the telephone to answer the incessant calls of anxious listeners, and while performing this task, he was bombarded by a series of juestions put to him by a lady caller. As this person was about to leave for the third time, the phone bell rang, but as the official lifted the receiver to answer the questioner returned, evidently in the hope that some piece of information had been overlooked, and the remark quoted was addressed to her, The telephone call was then answered, but after hearing the short oration, the person at the other end had fled. . Tt is something of a coincidence that at the exact time the case was reported from Auckland of a radio receiver having been left turned on while the, owner. was absent for two mouths, a similar incident should take place in the St, Kilda district. The owner in this instance was more fortunate, however, as he was absent for only three

or four days. Neighbours heard the radio playing merrily after the resident had gone away, but as there was no way of getting into the house to turn the switch off, and they did not know where the owner had gone, those living in close proximity just had to leave the set to sing and talk to its heart’s content. It may be added that this same householder also left the electric current running through his stove, which, fortunately, was of a modern type that does not overheat. It would be interesting to see his elec. tricity account at the end of the month. [FOLLOWING the announcement in last week’s "Radio Record" that M, de Rose was determined to carry on his duties at 4YA, despite the handi- ' cap of a fractured arm, the genial little conductor of the Concert Orchestra has

unfortunately been forced to temporarily relinquish command of the studio instrumentalists, a severe attack of influenza compelling him to remain in bed, At his last microphone appearance with the orchestra he was suffering from what was thought to be a bad cough only, but despite this, in addition to being under the disability of having to control the orchestra with only one arm, he steered the musical comhination through a very creditable performance, However, the cold quickly developed, and. his medical adviser would not allow him out before the next scheduled broadcast of thé orchestra, so arrangements’ were made for the cornet player, Mr. ©. Morgan, who is also the conductor of a local band, to take charge of the baton, while another cornetist was engaged for the evening to fill the vacancy.