Big Reasons For Small Figures

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 42, 26 April 1935, Page 18

Big Reasons For Small Figures

Distressing Electrical Interference and D.C. Keep Down Numbers — Generous Hospital Provisions — Public Address SystemsBrowsing Round the B Stations.

RETURNS of radio licenses for the four centres, which appeared in last week’s "Record," disclose thit Wellington has seyeral thousand more listeners than Auckland, in spite of the latter’s large population, The in crease of 1YA’s power to double that ot 2YA, with the attendant increased coverage-has not affected Wellington's lead in licenses. -The reasons for this are well known to Auckland listeners. and are (a) listening anywhere within an eighth of a mile of Auckland’s tram rails is practically impossible becausi the frightful interference of tram cars, although .inexpensive and effec tive remedies have been demonstrated by post office experts, continues to ruin reception for thousands of listeners, and is preventing the sales of hundreds of new sets; (b) large areas in Auckland are supplied with d.c. power, anil the consequent wide use of d.c. apptiances creates a noise level which also has an adverse effect on Auckland license figures. It is high time that the Interference Regulations gazetted last October were enforced and. this unwarranted and unreasonable interference with the amusement and entertainment of the listening puhlic, not to mention the livelihood of thousands of people engaged in the radio trade, Was snppressed. Wellington is not troubled with d.ce. areas, and the tram‘ars there do not seriously affect reception MPUE Auckland Hospital Board is, tO be congratulated on its decision tu modernise and extend its radio insta!lation in order to make available high fidelity radio reception to bed-weary patients. This is just another sign of the hoard’s desires to do all it possibly cin to ertse the lor of the sufferers in the largest hospital in New Zealand. The contract for the work hag been let lo Johns Limited, of Auckland. and it calls for the supply of SO new listening points, complete with jacks. volume contrels, impedance matching devices and headphones The existing service of 72 head receivers is to be modern ised. The radio and andio amplifies is to be replaced by a new one of tie high fidelity type and with very much greater power monitoring Precau: tions are being taken to p-event inre! ference from the large number of elec tro-medical devices in use in the hos pital The special aerial system recently developed by fhe firm wil) alas he installed, this being in aecordanwith the conditions of the contract TH: AT the Auckland public is becom ing more and more radio minded is proved by the number of occasions during the past six months on which public address -systems, with: micro phones and amplifiers, have been used at important public functions. The Duke of Gloucester, at the big children’s rally in the Domain. Tord Bledisloe’s farewell address jn the Town Hall, the primary.and secondary schools’ sports,

and the welcome to Viscount Galway), and many other big functions, have al’ been broadcast to listeners by means of this modern adjunct of wireless. The open-air performance by the Grenadic Guards Band early in the year in Car: law Park was made available to the thousunds who attended by this means. So good was the reproduction and st skilfully were the microphones and loudspeakers concealed that only those "in the know" were aware that they were vot listening to the bani direct. but to a large number of amplifiers. OW that the selection of the Ar . Blacks to tour England is immin ent, Rugby enthusiasts generally should be interested in the series of football talks every Thursday evening from station 1ZB. "Griffo,". che radia sport ing reporter, is cumpletely covering the ground of public interest by taking as his subject on sequential evenings "Selecting a Rugby Touring Team." "Old and New Methods of Play as Peculiar to New Zealand." and "Players-Their Chances of Selection," and "The Opposi tion, Strength in Mngland." This week the first taik was given and. caused much interest, HE new Broadcasting Board is now on the job and Auckland B station proprietors have already been asked to supply full details of programmes and programme arrangements. The board is certainly not letting the grass grow under its feet. Listeners will »robahl) soon know whether the Postmaster. (xeneral had his tongue in his cheek when he said the board would’ not interfere with B station programmes. The fact that all B station licenses were promptly renesved on presentation by the P. and T. Department points to his remarks being made in all.sine Yity. AS a result of qa paragraph appearing *" in a recent issue of the "Radio Record" suggesting the possibility of such a broadeast, there has been considerable jnquiry from 1ZB as to when it is proposed to relay a perfermance of the Clem Dawe Revue Company from His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland. De finite arrangements are practically con cluded for this broadcast to take place On Wednesday evening, May 8. With their usual ready courtesy, the members of this popnlar company — have ‘onsented to provide this broadcast for those afflicted individuals wha. have not been able. through bodily ailment or otherwise. ta personally be present it one of the shows. STATION 1ZJ, Auckland, with an output of, 68 watts; and broadcasting on a frequency of 1310 kilocycles. is evidently a most efficient B_ station, in_ging by the niwmnerous reports re"eived from various parts of the Dominion congratulating the proprietors on the quality of the reception, This station broadeasts nothing but records loaned by its supporters, An endeavour is made to present items of a popular

nature, although a proportion of classical recordings is included for the many who enjoy this type of entertainment. Using an aerial of the cage-counterpu.-e type, 1ZJ broadcasts on Tuesdays and ‘Vhursdays from 12 (nvon) to 2 p.m., and on Wednesdays between 7.80 and 9.30 p.m. It is propesed during the’ winter months, as often as possible, ta give a dance session between 7,30 and | 4.30 p.m. on Wednesdays in order to cater for the undoubted demands for this class of entertainment. qt is just twelve months since "Uncle Scrim" paid his short visit to Sydney in connection with the possibility of developing the Friendly Road i Australia. Those who were interested in the matter at the time will be aware that owing to the delicate nature of the task the interested parties decided that they wouid not be able to co anything until "Unele Scrim" was able to devote 2 certain amount of time to the development and oversight of a. completely established Austrelan service. Requests are continually being received for a further visit by "Uncie Scrim,’ with « view to early progression of f matter, and it is quite possible that the; ‘near future may see some definite move ° in this regard. OCALLY, the big King’s Jubilee event will be the combined studio programme at 1YA on Thursday, May 9 by the Auckland Choral Society. Auckland Male Voice Choir and the Bohemian Orchestra. There will he more than 200 performers in the main studio. Opening with Dlgar’s arrangement of "God Save the King," the items will include "Land of Hope and Glory" and Sullivan’s "Te Deum," PVANGHLINE BOOTH, the new General of the Salvation Army, has eaused quite q sensation in Australia, where she has been received everywhere with enthusiasm. Due in New Zealand next week, she is to be accorded a big reception in the Auckland Town Hall on Friday, May 3. Listeners. especially those in the country, who will not have an opportunity of personally hearing this outstanding lady. will be glad to know that the addresses of welcome and also of Bvangeline Booth, will he broadeast by 1YA. ‘ A CIVIC complimentary evening will be tendered to his Grace Archhishop Averill, Primate of New Zealand, in the Town Hall next Tuesday. at p.m.. in order to mark the silver jubilee of his elevation to the Episcopate. The proceedings will be broadcast on relay by 1YA. oo.