OVER THE AERIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1932, Page 13

OVER THE AERIAL

RADIO NOTES. TIIOM FAR AND NEAR. (By "PHONOS.") More than 6000 efforts at solutions of the music-lovers' competitions conducted in the four centres have been sent in. The results are anticipated next week.

The IYA advisory committee is recommending the board that regular audition times for all artists desiring engagement should be arranged at the four YA stations. It also considers that the goodnight melody from IYA ehould be quietly interred.

The chief Rugby football matches played by the New Zealanders in New South Wales, those against the State, and the first and third Tests, will be described through 2ME and rebroadcast by each of the four YA stations.

2YA now undertakes a short devotional service at the commencement of eacli morning session. The innovation was agreed to on the recommendation of tho local Church committee, which is co-operating in arranging the taking of this brief service.

The new 2YA orchestra, which made a much-appreciated radio debut on Monday night, went on the air under the best possible conditions eo far as etudio arrangement and transmission were concerned. Very thorough testing was undertaken on Sunday morning, specially selected observers being appointed to listen in, and forward immediate criticism. This month marks the close of the A.B.C. regime in Australia. The plan of "tendered programmes," much lauded at its inception, has not justified all expectations, and listeners in New Zealand, as well as those in the Commonwealth, will be interested to note the changes that occur when the State itself, per medium of a board, takes over complete control of'broadcasting on July 1. From IYA next week there will be a Sunday eveningrelay of the church service from St. David's, followed by a studio concert, to which the orchestra and the Orpheus Quartet will contribute. Tuesday night will bo devoted to the customary recorded programme, and a lecture by Mrs. Gordon Robertson, "Music and Beauty in Many Lands." The "Mountebanks" are to provide an hour on Wednesday. On Thursday the orchestra, Miss Valerie Peacock, Miss Phyllis Graham and Mr. Eobcrt Simmers, are included in the programme. Mr. Leslie Belcher, the Moore Sisters and Mr. J. W. Bailey will appear on Friday. Acknowledgment is made of the receipt of the "New Zealand Radio Handbook Annual," an excellent Auckland publica-: tion which will be valuable to all types of listeners. Containing as it does an up-to-date schedule of all stations on long and short waves usually heard in New Zealand, a number of simplyexpressed technical articles on latest radio developments, historical references to the development of broadcasting, and a wealth of other detail useful to both the average listener and the ultraenthusiast, tho "Handbook" should be a useful adjunct beside every eet. Features of the publication are several illustrations of the development of the manufacturing industry in the Dominion and numerous diagrams.

The radio wiring regulations arc to be gazetted this week, but at the time of writing arc not available for comment. It is forecast that the regulations will place some definite and needed restriction upon the manufacture and sale of sets, marketing being forbidden unless they comply definitely with conditions laid down. There will also be a provision that no person shall continue to use any.radio apparatus which fails to comply with the regulations. This will place upon the owner the responsibility of seeing that his installation complies in every way with the mandates of the regulations, i Actually, such conditions exist to-day, but they are very much honoured in the breach. It is likely that there will be considerable activity in the alteration of power-point connections, arid even aerial arrangements, when listeners realise the full purport of the demands made upon them. A fine of :£5 can bo imposed for breaches of the regulations after their gazetting.

Manufacture of radio receivers is growing apace, particularly in Auckland, which is now finding an extensive market in Southern centres as well as in the city and province. One local factory has turned out no lees than 1200 sets in the last four months. An average output of 300 per month from one factory is sufficient to show that the locally-built set has now got a strong hold upon public favour. The general opinion of purchasers of New Zealandmade seta is that they are in every way all that can be wished for, and there is no complaint regarding the faithfulness of both material and workmanship in them. Presuming that 1000 New Zealand manufactured sets are now being turned out monthly throughout the Dominion, it may be safe to assert that a sum approaching £250,000 is now being expended in New Zealand on receivers locally made. Were it not for public support of the industry a great proportion of this amount would find ite way overseas, whereas only about 20 per cent of the cost goes abroad, for valves and other parts not yet capable of local production on an economic basis.

One may expect that, with a definite revenue assured for the next twelve months and the report of the coverage commission shortly to be delivered, the Broadcasting; Board will soon give some indication of the policy it intends to pursue in the futurel It is hard to imagine, however, the manner in which certain important aspects of this policy can be formulated until the board has a permanent head whose advice on future developments will bo sought, and followed within financial lifiits. The questionnaire, now in course of official analysis, will give considerable guidance on non-technical matters, but the board is under a handicap in having no really qualified director of radio entertainment to formulate from the analysis, not only what the listeners want, but the extent to which their wants can be gratified. Six months of board control have already produced some reforms and improvements, for which listeners are no doubt grateful, but they have not marked a new epoch in broadcasting—and that is what listeners are awaiting. They have given the board surprisingly good financial support, and, while they do not expect wonders in return, many feel that they are entitled to know, and know Soon, what reforms are. coming.