"Far More Kicks Than Ha'pence"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 23, 14 December 1934, Page 31

"Far More Kicks Than Ha'pence"

Writer to Dunedin Paper Supports Broadcasting Board’s Programme Policy — Gene Sarazen Will Not Forget His Dunedin VisitTalks on World Affairs to be Arranged For 4YA.

At last an anonymous newspaper correspondent in Dunedin has appeared to side with the Broadcasting Board against a previous writer, whose "kick" was in the "swashy" programmes offered by the main station on Sunday mornings. The board’s supporter in this matter states: "In correspondence that has appeared occasionally anevt YA

Stations’ programmes, it has been only too painfully clear that the New Zenland Broadtasting Board has beeu offered far more kicks ‘that ha’pence. The burden of complaint has usually been that the YA station programmes have been too high-brow, classical, or dull for the majority of listeners, Suuday programmes especially being pointed to as the limit in drabness. While I have always admitted that these Sun day programmes are certainly of the high-brow type, I have also given it as my personal opinion that I do not ex-_ pect to find Sunday programmes of the same nature as those of week days" In a remaining portion of his letter he makes a plea for an "opposite" type o7 programme from the auxiliary station on the Sabbath. A S announced in the cables revently, ~* the King is to broadcast a Christmas message again this year. Presumably the Broadcasting Board will follow its principle of last year by rebroadcasting this ‘message, which is te be given on Christmas Day. The hour chosen for the broadcast is 8 p.m. G.M.T., and on account of the inconvenience of this time to New Zewand--it willbe 3a.m. here. on Boxing Dayseveral Dunedin listeners have already anticipated that a recorded version of the talk will be broadcast through the

Empire station at a more opportune hour in the day. . R. GENE SARAZEN, the American golf champion, has visited the south, and there is very good reason to believe that he will not soon forget his visit to Dunedin, as on his only day on the Balmacewan links he and his partner, Mr. Shaw, were beaten by two local players, Dr. Ross and Mr?. Wright. In a broadcast talk that evening Mr. Sarazen gave the victors évery credit for their win, and it was particularly noticeable that he did rot in any way endeavour to excuse his own play. Mr. Sarazen’s opening remarks gave promise of an interestinz radio interview to follow, but unfortunately any anticipations of this nature were not justified. He was asked many questions, the answers to all of which he had already supplied in the prelude, and it was most disappointing that he was not given the openings to express himself more freely on the subject. ALRPADY listeners are looking forward to the return of Mr. J. Alexander Browne, the Australian baritone, who entertained them a few weeks ago. Mr. Browne is a vocalist of some eminence, and at his previous recitals in Dunedin introduced an intriguing list of songs by his own novel annotations, He is to make three appearances at 4YA in the New Year.

qt is hoped to be able to arrange for a regular series of weekly talks on current affairs to be given from the A station next year, a well-known broadeaster to be the story teller. Similar talks have been featured from other stations for some fime now, and are of immense interest to some of the listeners, who read short reports of happenings in other countries. in their newspapers, but do not. understand them or attach any significance to them. The advantage of the talks lies in the fact that the listener. will have the meanings of certain events explained to him during his leisure hours. [tz seems to be the policy of the Broadcasting Board to secure B.B.C, recordings of very diverse types.. On December 14 there is due for local presentation the latest of the issue of programmes from England, this being a tale of the sea entitled "Pilot Station," with a broadcast commentary by Cecil! Madden. Following the playing of this recorded programme, a short-recital of Sea songs, arranged locally, will be given.

WILL New 1LYA Sorvr INELSON’S PRoBLEMS?P Auckland Station Comes In Well, Says Listener "THE new IYA was on the air | giving test transmissions several times last week, and an enthusiastic communication was received by a Nelson listener immediately after the first broadcast saying that the station was coming in with remarkable clarity and at double the strength of the Wellington station. Nelson is unfortunately placed for the reception of programmes from the national stations, but it looks as if the new IYA may be the means of solving that town’s reception problems.

Prizes Offered For Essays on New Zealand Birds LISTENERS in all parts of New Zealand who have had their interest in New Zealand's bird life stirred by radio talks such as those which have been given from time to time from 2YA by Mr. Johannes Andersen. will be interested. in the announcement that. to stimulate intelligent observation of our birds during this holiday season, a number of handsome prizes hawe been donated by ‘the New Zealand Bird Protection Society for essays contributed by our readers. The first prize is a cheque for £5, the second one for £2/10/-, the third three separate prizes of three cloth-bownd albums valued at £1 cach, the fourth three separate paper-bound albums valued at 12/6 cach (these albums containing a beautiful collection of coloured repreductions of the more prominent and interesting of our native birds). The essays are to be of not more than 500 words each, and wpon the following subjects :- ‘ 1. PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF ANY NATIVE BIRD, or. | 2. THE VALUE OF THE NATIVE FOREST TO NEW ZEALAND. As the idea. of this competition is to encourage an appreciation of bird and. forest life by the general public, it is requested that recegnised ornithological experts refrain from competing. . Hntries must be written in ink on one side of the paper only and forwarded to the Bditor of this paper by February 10, 1935. The essays will be judged by an authoritative expert, and the results announced as soon as possible thereafter. This competition is open to readers of the "N.Z. Radio Record," the "N.Z. Referee," and the "N.Z. School News." ;