OVER THE AERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 13

OVER THE AERIAL.

RADIO NOTES. FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By "PHONOS.");

On Tuesday night 2YA will broadcast a programme by the Hutt LiedertafeL

Thursday night's concert is to be provided by the Savoy Male Quartet.

Tb* Wanderers Concert Party is announced to provide ninety minutes of entertainment from IYA on Wednesday.

The first of a series of four talks on agricultural subjects will be given from IYA on Tuesday next, Mr. Smallfield, of the Agricultural Department being the lecturer.

On Sunday afternoon IYA will relay from the Town Hall a special service arranged in connection with the Cirl Guide movement, at which his Excellency Lord Bledisloe will be the principal speaker.

On Saturday of next week both 3YA and 4YA will relay a production of " The Arcadians " by the Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society. '.....

Fred Lucas, ex-captain of the Auckland Rugby representatives, -will be heard from IYA in a series of four talks, commencing on Wednesday, June 8. Mark Nicholls will deliver a series from 2YA, starting on Saturday, June 4. - •

Representations were made to the Coverage Commission during its visit to Gisborne that the best YA station received there was 3YA. It is contended by one Gisborne observer that if the Christchurch plant is raised up to the power of 2YA it will give quite satisfactory service to Poverty Bay.

On Sunday night the Salvation Army service will be relayed, and a studio concert will follow. among the items presented by the choir and the orchestra will be " News from Whydah " and the "Lost Chord." "Problems of the Pacific " will be dealt with by Mr. W. S. Dale in the Tuesday evening talk from IYA.

The announcement that a total of 63,224 licenses of different types have already been issued for the 1932 season is decidedly gratifying news, and a certain indication of the steadfast hold which listening-in has now secured. On April 30 of last year only 45,842 licenses had been issued, and the increase to 74,741 was the most remarkable growth in the Btory of New Zealand broadcasting. If a similar rate of increase occurs from May 1 till. March 31 next, licensed listeners throughout the Dominion should total 100,000. Last year there was an initial drop from 02,000 to 45,000 in round figures, while this year the drop i 3 from 74,000 to 62,000—a very much smaller proportion. When it is considered that financial difficulties have delayed the payment of many licenses, the figures for May 31 may show almost the total leeway recovered. This will be a state of affairs that will provide an assured foundation upon which ths. board may build future schemes.'

The whole question of Sunday broadcasting deserves early review, as has been urged here from time to time. It would be unwise policy to depart from the recognised custom of relaying church services, but the provision of an alternative is one that will be requested by quite a large section of the community. Such provision now exists only to a very limited degree. It should be extended when the board comes to the question of co-ordinating B station services. The filling in of the silent gap at IYA between 4.30 and 6 p.m on Sundays, is also worth the attention of the board. There ia probably no time during the whole week when listening would be more popular than this hour and a half. The B stations seem to recognise this, but their range is limited.

"Request nights" have not become general with New Zealand stations, and in the light of American experience we have to be thankful. In the States requests have been so numerous that it has been impossible to fulfil more than a tithe of them. In consequence ill will has resulted on the part of listeners, and the station mail includes many examples of "My request for good music has been ignored, while you have broadcast," etc. As a general rule, wise direction of a programme is a better procedure than leaving it to the whim of individuals whose forceful attitudes may eventually affect detrimentally the quality of the station's performances.

The writer had the privilege this week of listening to a rehearsal of a novel local attraction that will soon be on the air from IYA. Messrs. Eric Waters and Tom Harris have collaborated to produce music and libretto of a special turn for broadcasting, though actually .the resultant production has greater scope than mere radio performance. It is styled "A Radietta," and is to be produced by Mr. Waters and the Clarion Quartet. "A Radietta" contains a suitable story which forms the basis for smart lyrics and tuneful music, the finale being particularly fine. It holds promise of giving listeners real novelty ard very bright entertainment.

Efforts such as this of Messrs. Waters and Harris deserve all encouragement, but under existing conditions there is little to attract local writing and composing talent towards broadcasting. The production referred to above must have meant many hours of work. This will be realised when it is stated that the score covers 35 pages of manuscript for a 25-minute musical revue. Rehearsals place no small demand upon the time of performers, who, of course, are paid for their studio appearance, but for the labour of the originators there appears so little prospect of even a most inadequate reward that only enthusiasm for the cause can justify all that has been put into "A Radietta." Though it has a New Zealand setting, it is quite suitablo for broadcasting further afield, and specially in Australia, but there appears no suitable means whereby New Zealand and Australian stations could join in securing "performing rights" (hateful term to listeners), and thus give the needful financial encouragement for original broadcasting material. The question of giving every encouragement to local composing and writing talent is one that should come before the board for favourable review and definite subsequent action. We have the talent in the Dominion —witness such fine efforts as "Tutankhamen" —and any radio authority which encourages it will be rendering • the community a double service. '