RADIO ANNOUNCER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 137, 13 June 1927, Page 10

RADIO ANNOUNCER.

■ MR. PRENTICE'S RETIREMENT. MEWS OF LISTEXERS-ES. We continue to receive letters relative to the retirement of Mr. Prentice from IYA broadcasting station. "Loud Speaker*' has something to say about the entertainment of children: —

"Being rather curious to know ■who the next Uncle would be at IYA. my cars were particularly alert on Friday night, and when I heard the announcer introduce Uncle Billy I naturally concluded that the original laughing Uncle Billy

had come back to us again. So. thinking it would be a pleasant surprise for my two children, I called out. 'Come on! Here's your old friend Uncle Billy and Jim Crow.' But to my surprise, immediately there came through the speaker a strong, but a not unpleasant, sonorous voice, with a big tinge of Scotch in it. At this we all laughed, thinking that the original Uncle Billy was tlying to fool us by changing his voice, as he so often did when he was entertaining the radio family. It soon dawned on us that the voicj belonged to another welcome friend that we have often heard lecturing over the air, and I know that other listeners-in will share with me the hope that we shall have many more of his talks. At the same time, I think it will be generally agreed that a dialect not English, or. I should say, accent that is not English, should not be used in educating children, no matter how pleasing or fascinating it may sound to us grown-ups. "I would like to sugsest that three whole hours, three evenings per week, should be devoted to the children—say Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. Aunt Who-ever-it-is-next could have Tuesday, and Thursday evening could be sec aside for a juvenile concert, including competitions, etc, and for Saturday evening a real live Uncle, who understands children and knows how to entertain them should be specially engaged for that purpose alone." "Three. Valve" writes "There is one thing the Broadcasting Company cannot rob us of and that is the memory of a gentleman who was beloved-by all who listened in, from Auckland right down to the Bluff. As for the kiddies, there was no need to say how they loved him. There never was and never will be another Uncle like Uncle Jack. We «vill all have to love Aunt Betty more than ever, because with her, comes memories of concerts with the children we have all enjoyed so much. Perhaps, if we wish very, very hard, those fairies will perhaps some dar bring back our beloved Uncle Jack." Writes "Radio Fan": "I thoroughly agree with "Grandpa." Mr Prentice's lectures on the operas were alone worth the license fees, and his talks to the children could not fail to make a wholesome and lasting impression on young and plastic minds. Apart from his elocutionary abilities, he s loved by the majority of 'radio fans' for his splendid ha.l-fellow-well-met attitude towards us aIL Grandpa's' «Jggestion that he who pav s the Diner shou fa.call the tune, could VeryweK adopted if listeners-in would get to! getner and dismantle and demand a reu M°L t , heir lees - l thin k something Mr Prentl 0 " 6 '" *? matter ° f ""Sj Air. frentice's services."

vnil f ßt '- Profiteer " « indignant :-«In jour columns of Fridav you Dub nJS someone's special pleading for Ue manner .n which the Broaden tin. Com , f J COnducted - From it, hm»vZ gahe re d that Auckland pays'jus TlLut rc of eD r h ' but **• ■ i"T 23 of WelLngtcn at £27,000. How faTh up 4 UC n k, - d £ viduaU apparently £ "^ A Different Note vie°w e H r ; e ,T ndent takeS a diff -ent «■ o? .SiiSd n - terersmatter entirely f or \u * °P>nion, a decide. Th're aT'" l ° here before A[r Pr„„7- g announcers will be -ore I nt,C * Pame - and c announcers when h* », gone, so why worry?" e has