THE NEW RADIO YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1930, Page 19

THE NEW RADIO YEAR.

PROSPECTS AND COMMENTS.

BROADCASTING TALENT.

If the usual standard of five listeners per licensed set is adopted, there should be a quarter of a million .people in New Zealand who are specially, concerned over what is to be offered in the way of radio fare for the coming twelve months. They know that at least things will go on as they have been going in the past year; that is, that there will be the same evening programmes, the same dinner music, children's sessions, and afternoon gramo* phone recitals, with the occasional special relays or broadcasts which eerve to demonstrate to the world the particular utility of a radio service. Yet such has been the development of broadcasting that owners of radio sets, paying their thirty shillings per annum, are ever inclined to ask for more. They read of wider services in other lands, and naturally they long for the same, even though such services lie beyond the realms of possibility. Broadcasting in New Zealand has definite limitations, and, while these should not bo used as a plea for curtailing service, it is well that they should be recognised. Until it is feasible to engage professional talent for our evening programmes, it is impossible that We can approach the standard set by those Australian stations which afford us so much entertainment of a winter evening. We have several relatively small, scattered communities which supply our. performing talent. This talent is, in consequence, limited in . numbers and, judging by past programmes, scope or in encouragement .to develop that scope. In consequence our evening programmes have grown to a stereotyped kind, quite acceptable at times individually, but monotonous in their repetition of artists and kind of item. If this chief stumbling block to the progrese of radio entertainment can be overcome, , the future for broadcasting must be decidedly bright.

Can It Be Done? The main point for consideration is the method under which improvement can be achieved. Can our, brpadcasiinb service afford to engage regularly, pro<fessional artists who will lend talent, brightness, and needed variety to our programmes? A year ago one would certainly have had' to answer this question in the negative. Subsequent, events suggest that to-day the iraportion of broadcast artists would be a sound proposition. In the first place, listening is now an established custom. So much has been invested in powerful and expensive sets that re-licensing is assured, whether service improves or does not. It may be taken that a Satisfactory minimum revenue is a certainty for the- Broadcasting Company. Hdw that money is to be expended id a matter for # the company itself, but business principles seem to point to a policy of broadcasting expansion which will assuredly increase revenue. This expansion, the mere onlooker would say, can best be obtainef through ijnproved evening programmes, and to secure these, the procuring of outside talent is essential. Importing Radio Talent. At the present juncture there is a decided slump in the theatrical world. Artists of merit and versatility are finding it hard to earn a living. Were they given opportunities to prepare and present broadcasting turns at a moderate fee they would seize the chances, and the declining vaudeville of the stage would become the popular vaudeville of the air. It is probable that the Broadcasting Company is well aware of these conditions, and may take advantage of them to the benefit of , its growing army of patrons. It is still more likely to do so if the insistent.urge comes from those patrons themselves. Chances for great improvement in, evening programmes exist to-day in a manner unknown heretofore, and if listeners impress this fact upon the powers that be, it will be all to their own benefit.

Mrs. A. Eattray, a Scottish soprano, will sing for the first time at IYA tomorrow night. . . Miss Edith Harrhy, composer, pianist and singer, who toured the New Zealand stations last year,, will appear at IYA again to-night, singing several of her own songs and giving pianoforte selections, i

RADIO IN AUCKLAND. In so far ae city and province are concerned, tie past broadcasting year hae been one of substantial progress from the viewpoint, of the radio trade, The number of licensees has grovifii steadily; there has been a regμiar de-, Jnand for the many excellent types of electric receivers now offered for sale at prices astonishingly low when compared -with those ruling for old battery et-ts three years ago. The radio trade has passed through its boom period and its "junk" period that is the inevitable associate of such a boom, And has now , , settled down to supplying thoroughly reliable articles, proved through experience which time alone can give, Every dealer runs his own servicing department, and listeners can be assured of quick attention to faults should thny not have the technical knowledge to diagnose and remedy these. The modern electric set, however, is eo- reliable an instrument, that once installed it requires a minimum of service—a point in itself which is wprth noticing by every prospective purchaser. • To-day there is every encouragement for.a big increase of licensed listeners during 1930. Sets are cheap and dependable, while their, running costs in powei*line current and valve renewals are definitely small. Broadcasting, both in quality and in extent of has shown steady advance and an everwidening scope. It is bringing to the home-lover not only the whole of New Zealand, but all that Australia, with its more ambitious programmes, can offer, and the important world-wide happenings as well..'

As a public utility, broadcasting deserves encouragement, and the best support that can be accorded it is consistent recruiting to the ranks of listeners. No time is more opportune than the present for such a move, in which existing listeners can assist greatly. Every additional licensee means brighter prospects, and it may' be expected that Aucklanders, who, from its inception, have been the mainstay of the broadcasting service, will give it during the coming year a still greater measure of their support. Briefly,' now is the time to purchase a set and to receive nation-wide service from it at a cost, including license fee and current, of less than twopence a day. .

BENEFITS OF RELAYS. Though it has been experimented with for some months, the relay line has proved its real utility only within the past few weeks, , ;and listeners should feel assured that this, utility will bo availed of to the full in the future. One does not know the expense incurred in using relay lines, arid an .official pronouncement on. the subject would be a wise move on the part, of both Department and, company. Listeners would then have some idea of what was within the bounds .of possibility in the way of relays. As it is, they may well expect, and demand, more than is financially possible, and may become dissatisfied through ignorance of an'/actual position. Candour -as' to , the future is an essential, if broadcasting in New Zealand is to equal in public popularity the service in the Commonwealth. • The Political Aspect.

Yet it is difficult to see how this candour can bo expected while the New Zealafid broadcasting service remains in, its present uncertain condition. The oxisting monopoly expires in about two years' time and, so far as the public .s aware, the problems of the future have not been settled. If the monopoly is to be renewed, it is time that those handling it were inade aware of the fact, so that no mere hand-to-mouth policy may continue. If, the system adopted in Britain or in Australia is to be followed here, the time is already ripe; for an indication of the fact. Australian listeners suffered temporarily frqni , a sudden change-overj and even now finality in broadcasting has not Jbpen reached in the Commonwealth, prpadcasting has, never yet held in New Zealand the samp-importance in the political world that it has reached in other parts of the world. Its welfare, its very future existence, requires statesmanship. Let.us hope that during the 198Q, season this Vifill be accorded it. The matter rests with listeners themselves. A promise, has been given that they would be QOiisulted ere any important future steps were taken. It is. only by the emphatic insistence upon consideration of their rights that listeners will receive-all that they deserve. Meanwhile, what: ever the future political policy regarding broadcasting may be, let ua implore ; the Broadcasting Company to continue. and to accelerate, the good work it haa bech dqihg in the interests of listeners and, of course, itself.