Over the Aerial

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 151, 28 June 1929, Page 17

Over the Aerial

(By "PHONOS.")

WIRELESS NEWS FROM FAR AND NEAR.

,IYA has done good service during the last few days in the dissemination of news regarding . the . earthquake and urgent calls resulting from the disaster." On Sunday evening there will be a; second . relay from Whangarei, the Whangarei Band, as in the previous relay, being the chief contributors to the programme. - , Relaying is becoming a favourite occupation with the New Zealand Broadcasting Company of late. - On July 12 3YA will broadcast a concert presented at Temuka. So successful was the "Night of Convivialities" a few weeks ago, that listeners will welcome "A Night With Grass. Widowers," which will supply originality to Thursday evening's programme from IYA. . Several Auckland listeners during the past week "have complained of the weakness of 2YA. Probably they have neglected to note that the wav>; length lias been altered from 420 to 416.7 meters —and Wellington's tuning is very sharp. Students of Auckland University and members of the Workers' Educational Association will indulge in a series of debates from IYA in the near future. The first is to eventuate on July 16. Let us hope that it will be entertaining as well as instructive. Miss Alma McGruer and the New Zealand Four will be the chief contributors to Tuesday's programme, which will also include a gramophone lecture-recital upon "Waltzes of Yesterday." Perhaps many listeners will be tempted to try onco more the almost-forgotten waltz. The rebroadcast of the New ZealandNew South Wales match to-morrow, per 2ME, Sydney, should be available here about 4.30 p.m. Despite the adverse weather conditions prevailing, reception from Australia has been quite good during the last two nights, though on Monday conditions were so bad that it was torture to tune in either Wellington or Sydney.

In tho new Australian programmes, due next month, there should be ample choice of orchestral music. The successful tenderers control no less than fiftyfour orchestras in different centres. The programme suppliers, who will have headquarters at Melbourne, intend to take the public into their confidence, for they announce that they wilt secure the so:vices of independent advisory committees in each State. Mr. George Saunders (who will be remembered by older listeners as "Uncle George" of 2 BL) will hoid a prominent position in the new organ-, isation. With' the recasting of positions and staffs among the Australian stations, there should be an excellent opportunity for the New Zealand Broadcasting Company to secure highly-trained organising and technical officials whose services would be invaluable here. Most of us remember the remarkable results that Mr. Prentice achieved here during his short stay in New Zealand, when he had to work under conditions much poorer than exist to-day. It is but a short time since a five kilowatt broadcasting plant was regarded as one of exceptionally big power. Nothing better illustrates the rapid march of broadcasting development than the big increases in power which have been, or are about to be adopted by various transmitting organisations. In Australia the five kilowatt plants that do duty in Sydney and other State capitals are to be replaced by apparatus of much higher power, but in t'hiß phase it is the United States -which leads the world. There the list of fifty kilowatt stations is growing rapidly. Five of these aro already working in different States, and six other permits for similar installations have already been granted - by the Federal Radio Commission. In addition there are quite a large number of ten kilowatt stations.

"B" CLASS STATIONS IN NEW ZEALAND. Some time ago proposals were placed before the Postmaster-General for the licensing in the Dominion of "B" class broadcasting stations' similar to those operating in Australian centres. The object of these stations is to secure revenue for programmes and maintenance through using the air as an advertising medium. Mr. Donald declined to approve of the proposals, and promised later to give reasons for so doingSuch reasons will probably be given on the floor of the House this session. Still, there are certain misapprehensions regarding the issue of broadcasting licenses which can be cleared up in the meantime. New broadcasting licenses may, and probably will, be issued, provided they conform to departmental regulations which forbid advertising over the air. It may be assumed that the reason for the Minister's refusal to countenance the scheme put before him hinged solely on the question of advertising. Only a certain number of licenses could be issued throughout the whole Dominion, if chaos in the ether— that bugbear of radio in the United States—is to he avoided here. To grant such licenses, and give the holders tof thein the right to become public advertisers would be virtually granting another monopoly, and one, which with the lapse of time might become exceedingly valuable. The Government has already one radio monopoly on its hands— a bequest from the late administration; and ii seems quite likely that it doei not desire'more. This may not be Mr. Donald's reason for the attitude he has takeij up, but it would be a natural and Very justifiable one. *