Your side of the MICROPHONE

Radio Record, 18 March 1938, Page 25

Your side of the MICROPHONE

AUUAMUAD ECA ESEAUDO CEASA SUMTER AAA This week’s prize-winners are: ‘‘Googly,"" Timaru (7/6); "Savaii," Auckland (5/-); "A.B.C.," Auckland; ‘"Amron," Timaru; ‘Je Suis Fini,’ Morrinsville; "‘Tristram,’’ Paeroa (2/6 each). Address entries (not more than 150 words each) to "SAFETY VALVE," P.O. Box 1680, Wellington, Prizemoney will be distributed at the end of each month, CUETESEETCQUACEEEDEQUEREDSLREDOIEEDEET SUVTDEELECQUTUEEDAETED TELE EEDERODEE 3

HAVE often thought that there is much matter for radio talks in the history of inventions which failed, and why! With regard to inventions which succeededwell, sooner or later we come satn anntantk with manv of

AAA VO ™Se OTP eee them. But what of the great hopes which, because of some technical fault or some unexpected flaw, were destined to be but short-lived? What of the crushing disappointments of the men who nurtured them? As a subject for lectures, the matter would be interesting, and the result

might be surprising. It is quite likely that some inventive member of the listening public might supply the solution to problems which have baffled great praing for centuries. Tt is certainly worth an: experiment.

A.B.

C.

Auckland.

Noises Off We all enjoy listening to plays, but some of them are so heavily charged with "effects" and "foreboding" music, that the real dialogue is quite spoiled, as in the case of "Monte Cristo.’ Of course, music is a sure means of creating "atmosphere," and cannot be entirely left out, but surely there are other means ag well to the

desired end. I would like to suggest that, by way of q change, listeners should be able to hear a play which speaks for itself, as it were, minus divers noises.-‘Amron." Timaru, Poetaster’s Plea HAT about a session for poets and poetry-lovers? Even people who never dream of reading verse to themselves, quite often delight in listening to a well-expressed poem over the air. Moreover, there would be a_ better chance of adding to one’s collection attractive bits, which, for various reasons, are unavailable to the general public. I would suggest the reading of modern verse (fot necessarily famous poets), including the work of New Zealanders. The latter being invited to read their own work, it would be an encouragement for our poets to broadcast their verse. Another interesting item would be uv selection of listeners’ favourites."Tristram," Paeroa. Prices For Women THR radio caters well for men in regard to stock and market reports. Now, once a week the local papers endeavour to publish market prices of interest to women. ‘They tell us the existing prices of different cuts of meat, different kinds of fruit, ete, etc. The trouble with the papers is that they are so often mislaid before the housewife has time'to look up the price lists. I would suggest a late afternoon Session toward the end of the week, when the prices might be broadcast. A market report for women would cheer the haart anf many an economical and busy

Pdtcd housewife.

K.

H.

Auckland:

I Saw It Happen OW interesting it would be if one of the stations were to encourag2 the powerg of observation of its listeners by inaugurating a feature in which the latter were asked to send in each day unique, exciting, actual happenings they had observed? Bvery minute of the day, out-of-the-odinary occurrences pass by unnoticed, even by the most enthusiastic newspaper representatives. For instance, while watching the loading of: frozen mutton on a Home liner recently, I was intrigued to watch

four seagulls anticipating the hoisting of the slings, swooping down and endeavouring to peck off pieces of meat from the protruding joints of mutton, with varying degrees of success. Of course, the crane‘driver made every effort to frustrate the attacks of the birds.

Perhaps &@ small prize could be offered for the most outstanding contribution each day.-‘R. Edward V," Wellington. Erim On The Air AY I assure "Klondike Kate" that an Irish session on the radio need on no account mean a noisy sessionor even cause a world war. Why

PTTTTTITITITITI TTI TTT LT OETECREAREGE ESE R Rae should it? The request of "Red Ryan" ig not an extraordinary one-he only asks that the current events of Erin at the present time, together with the usual talks on Irish affairs in general, be put over the air at intervals-and, if granted by the radio authorities, the section of the public whom it may "very much annoy" would be negligible -"Je Suis Fini," Morrinsville.