Your Side of the MICROPHONE

Radio Record, 25 March 1938, Page 25

Your Side of the MICROPHONE

-_-_- This week’s prize-winners are "Junette,’’ Wellington (7/6); "Juliana," Auckland (5/-); "Buffalo Bill," | Auckland, ‘‘J.M.G.,’’ Southland, ‘J.L.,’’ Christchurch, and ‘"Impatient,’"? Dunedin (2/6 each). Address entries (not more than 150 words each), to "SAFETY VALVE," P.O. Box 1680, Wellington. Prize-money will be forwarded at the end of each month.

N two occasions ti) the tirades. of Klondike Kate well named) have figured prominently on your page. I quite realise that yowr policy is to cater for those people who must either "explode or bust," but T nhiact ta Klondike Kate for

this:reason. Her criticism is entirely destructive. She does not attempt to offer an idea or suggestion which would in any way improve existing radio programmes. Her one ambition in life seems to be to wreck what others are building. I remember that she did advocate 4 session for helpless fathers, but I took it, at the time, to be a good example of satire. It is caustic, bitter-tongued women like poor Kate who make men helpless. If they are taken too seriCoe

ously they may have the same effect on radio announcers. So, beware!Buffalo. Bill; Auckland.

I "Holiday Geography" HERE are many people who never travel simply because they do not know where to go. Think of the loss their "staying at home’ means to the Railways Department. The Government might use its own broadcasting stations to produce revenue, if a series of talks were given advertising "New Zealand’s holiday resorts." A clear description of the place should be given, with special reference to its natural beauties, accommodation for tourists, suitability for various sports and amusements, historical interest if any, location, distance by road and by rail from the nearest city. These are only a few of the many facts which would be welcome and valuable to the average ignorant tourist. I sugest that two or three resorts could be dealt with in one talk, and that the fold of dicenssion eould he extended to

overseas holidav resorts

J.M.

G.

Southland.

Praise Wanted I AM an enthusiastic reader of the "Radio Record," particularly "Your Side of the Microphone," but I am disappointed to see that the majority of the letters printed are "suggestions." It is a great pity that listeners don’t find a side of the programmes other than the side where they can find fault. If all the "suggestions" for different talks, etc., were recognised we should have to ask Old Man Time to extent his 24-hour day by 10 hours or so. All you sports-what about praising the announcers and the programmes for a change? Jor instance, the wonderful voice of Bob Spiers, of 3ZB, is a source of cheer and comfort to hundreds of listeners during 3ZB’s Sunday hospital session, And the ingenuity of the announcers-are they aver ctuck for anvthing to sav? I-bet

vou would be, all you others !-

J.

L.

Christchurch.

Piano Prodigy HERE has been a "Deanna Durbin" competition for children who can sing well, but there are many others who learn musie and long for a chance

like June Barsom. So why not have a competition to find New Zealand’s child pianist? I am sure there would be no lack of competitors, as there are hundreds of children in New Zealand learning music who would enter.-‘Impati-ent," Dunedin.

| EvilBe...

OO I WONDER if "Savaii’" "Radio Record," March 18), is serious in his suggestion for a "Low Story Session," While I do not belong to the "bluestocking" class (I hope)-whom I can imagine fainting with horror at the very idea-I nevertheless hope that this idea remains in the brain that invented it. There is, to me, something wunhealthy about the idea of sitting beside your radio, earg pricked up, waiting for your "low" story. A really funny risque story justifies its "smuttiness" by its humour, but let us remember that there are listeners who have no sense of humour.

No, "Savaii,’ a really smart story does not need to be broadcast. It spreads like wildfire, possibly never contaminating the ear of the unsophisticated. Besides, the sophisticated among us will, almost certainly have a-ready heard the thing, and what 4s more wearvinge than a "twice-baked"

joke?.

J.

O.

Wellington,