One-sided Report in "Radio Record"

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 11 January 1935, Page 7

One-sided Report in "Radio Record"

To the Editor Sir,-In a recent issue you inserted "Notes" from your Otago correspondent, but I am sorry to have to suggest that he does not "play cricket." For some reason or other he deems it proper to quote what an anonymous correspondent (a "Board's supporter" as your correspondent defines him), has to say about..Sunday programmes and yet makes no reference, save in general terms, to what I had to say in the local paper. May I be allowed to point out that, invariably, an anonymous correspondent, mecessarily, is much discounted in whatever he may have to say, but your correspondent presumes to give him a conspicuous place in your columns, I enclose a copy of my letter and in yassing J may say that neither Mr. Macfarlane nor any other person (save the anonymous correspondent, who could, quite easily, be a person "within the fold"), has, so far, replied. When an anonymous correspondent starts to write about correspondents who append their name to their letter as not being "broad minded," but "one eyed" and "intolerant," then I suggest that your columns should not be open to such correspondents, to insult your readers. Your correspondent ought to be a person who will see that a fair position of the matter under. discussion is submitted to you for publication. " You surely do not

want one-sided reports, and I venture to suggest that you have one in this instance.

7 am, etc ,

W. J.

BARDSLEY

" panei ~ Oe } ENCLOSURE, (To the Wditor, "Evening Star,’’ Dunedin.) Sir-In the November 9 issue of the "New Zealand Radio Record" Mr, L. R. C. Macfarlane, :the South Island membet of the New Zealand Broadcasting. -Board;! credited with having said: "Most of: the leading men,in all, walks of life in England are very proud. of ‘the British Broadcasting Corporation, ‘In’ this respect there is a pointed difference between . Engjand and New Zealand. In Bngland* they’ are proud of their institutions, but the attitude here is quite different. There should be'a little more enthusiasm." I have had the privilege to visit the old (Savoy) and new headquarters of the eorporation, and, in a word, there is something to be enthusiastic about. The article goes on to refer (not Mr. Macfarlane) to the instance of a lady who — expressed warm approval of "good ra I presume to challenge Mr. Maéfarlane and 4YA.on this morning's (Sunday) 9 o’elock programme, some of the items of which I think would nauseate even "leading men of Bngland." I feel convinced that the lady previously referred to, if she happened to be listening in. if she has any regard for the Sabbath, wuuld have been completely disappointed at the radio which Was presented this morning. Be this as it may, I submit, publicly, my complete. protest against the character of some of the records submitted this- morning. We have six week days during which 4YA can inflict on an intelligent audience-if they are prepared to listen, which they are not -a proportion . of "swashy" stuff, but surely on the Sunday it could have some regard for its clients, who highly prize the Lord’s Day and. yet have flung at them. such ‘"‘swash" as we got to- day--" What Happened the Morning After the Night Before." also "Anent His Friends at > the Pub." A sense of duty constrained me to wait for the end of the record to. ascertain if the next item would give any relief. It did, an announcement; for it waS to be an organ item, An organ solo and Sunday! This seemeg to assure relief, and one felt instinctively (as one ‘has felt before more than once) willing to overlook the past. But* imagine one’s disappointment when the first "stanza’’ was "A Bicycle Built For Two." Sunday morning, remember! I immediately "eut out," and "thought with pity and sympathy of the thousands, perhaps, in distant parts of the province where they have not church facilities; the Sick. and the infirm folk, looking, expectantly, on such a gloriously beautiful morning for something to aid.them in their sense of gratitude or need of cheer or patience. But Mr. Macfarlane-‘‘a trustee of the listeners’’-failed them, and this ought not to be for one single moment, with the thousands of beautiful records that are in existence appropriate to the Sabbath day. Let me make it quite clear that 1 appre-ciate-as others do-exceedingly all that Mr. Macfarlane and his board are doing for us, also that I do not offer this criticism, as some do, in connection with the 4YA station, under cover of a2 nom -de plume, I[ abominate anonymous critical correspondence generally, because it is frequently dishonest, but having.been disappointed before, ‘without voicing any objection, I feel it a duty to make public .teference to this matter, with the ob4ect of "scotching," once and for all; if posSible, this "Swashy" stuff. I trust, sincerely, that my writing will have ‘the effect of securing an- appropriate and reverential Sunday morning (9 o’clock) session in future.-I am. etc.,

W. J.

BARDSLEY