OVER THE AERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 134, 9 June 1933, Page 12

OVER THE AERIAL.

RADIO NOTES.

FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By PHONOS.)

The date for the broadcast of the Aiickland concert by the Spivakoveky trio has now been altered to "Wednesday, June 21. A comedy, "So This is London," -will be heard from 2FC at 9.30 next Tuesday, and on Wednesday at- the same time, the musical comedy, "High Jinks," will be put on the Australian national hook-up. For the last two years the Commonwealth Treasurer has received a total of £73.000 from the amount paid by radio licensees in Australia. As a result a strong agitation, backed by newspaper eupport, is being made for a reduction of the annual license fee from 24/ to £1. A further extension of hours is promised from all YA stations on and after June 18. A morning session will commence at 9 a.m., and continue till 11 a.m., featuring popular music. The afternoon sessions will be carried on from 1 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., the first hour being devoted to music of the dinner-hour type. The best tribute that can be given to the firm popularity of listening is the fact that there were over 80,000 renewals of licenses in the first month of this radio year, the total on April 30 beinw 81,759. Of this total Auckland district claims over 23,000. Never before has such a high percentage of renewals been recorded in the first fenir weeks.

Few listeners realise that since the board took control of our broadcasting it has purchased no less than three transmitting plants, all, by the way, from Amalgamated Wireless, and all manufactured in Australia. These are the portable transmitter which will shortly make its appearance round Auckland, the auxiliary 2YA plant, which is showing remarkable range for its small power, and the new 3YA now in course of erection on Banks Peninsula. The masts for the last-named, reaching a height of 320 feet, are now in course of erection, and it is c]uite likely that the plant itself will be ready for the air early in October.

The Empire broadcast of His Majesty's speech at the opening of the London Economic Conference should reach New Zealand at 1.30 a.m. next Tuesday. This is an unfortunate hour both for listeners and for _ short-wave transmission. Present indications are that the YA stations will not attempt a rehroadcast in the small hours of Tuesday morning, but will depend upon a Blattnerphone recording that will be transmitted at a more suitable hour for short-wave reception —5.30 on the Tuesday afternoon. This should give the great body of listeners an historic opportunity. The "direct" enthusiasts, however, will be keen to get in early, and no doubt will tune in to GSD when that station transmits the King's voice a 6 he delivers his address.

Correspondence in recent issues of some Southern papers has dealt with the correctness of the pronunciation of both English and Maori words from the YA stations. Generally speaking, little fault can be found with either the enunciation or the pronunciation of the board's regular announcers, but it might be well for the board to consider whether this insistence on correctness of English is to be confined to those who servo it regularly every day before the microphone. Some of the broadcast accounts of events which attract the largest numbers of listeners, particularly juveniles, are notable neither for their correct grammar and pronunciation nor for a wise choice of words. The question may arise whether some broadcast features are not having almost as baneful effect upon our spoken word as are many of the productions of Hollywood.

Mr. Justice Owen as commissioner conducting an inquiry into tho operations of the Australian Performing Rights Association, has presented to the Commonwealth Parliament a report that is almost sensational in some of its findings. It contains very definite suggestions for the limitation of the powers now claimed and exercised by the P.R.A., which requires such substantial payments before permitting the broadcast of musical and dramatic matter over which it holds copyright. If effect is given to the recommendations of the commissioner, legislation will provide that the Performing Rights Association file statements of all fees and charges it proposes to collect for tho performance of any musical work, and accounts of receipts and distribution of such fees. Until the time fixed for such filing, tho present right of the P.R.A. shall remain, and it shall lodge with the Commonwealth a security of £3000. The main object of the commissioner's recommendations is obviously to bar possibility of exploitation of the public by extortionate claims for the granting of rights of performance. How thoroughly it intends to do this can be gleaned from a full summary of the recommendations published in the Sydney papers of May 24. One stipulation made is that there shall be no charge for the broadcasting of works forming part of a religious service. It appears likely that the main outcome of the inquiry will be a considerable reduction in the annual amount of license revenue paid for the utilisation of copyright. This question, however, bristles with international complications, and it may be a long time before the whole matter is finally settled to public satisfaction.

FROM IYA NEXT WEEK

Sunday—7.o p.m., Churcli service from St. Andrew's Presbyterian; 8.30, studio concert by the orchestra; Denis Sheard (tenor) and Phyllis llazcll (contralto). Monday (to 1ZH)—8.10, 8.31, 8.56, Alf Healy's orchestra; 8.24 and 8.48, Doris Moore (contralto); 9.0, wrestling: relay. Tuesday—s.3o p.m.. King's speech rebroadcast; (to IZH) 8.0, recordings; 0.2, Jane Mander, "The Little Theatre Movement"; 10.0, dance music. Wednesday—B. p.m., recordings; 8.43 and 9.23, Maud Clarke (soprano); 8.30, 8.53, 9.17 and 9.26, Watersiders' Band; 9.30, dance music. Thursday (to IZH) —8.8, 8.22, 8.48, 9.23 and 9.55, Auckland Commercial Travellers' male choir; 8.33 and 9.35, Leo Whlttaker and Trever de Clive Lowe (piano and 'cello) ; 9.2, Arthur Ross, "Machinery—Friend or Foe." Friday (to IZH) —8.0, 8.23, 9.17 and 9.53, the orchestra; 8.16 and 9.24, G. Colledge (baritone); 8.30 and 9.40, Dawn Harding (contralto). Saturday—2.4s p.m., Rugby relay; 8.0, 8.36, 8.54, 9.17 and 9.43, the orchestra; 8.7 and 9.21, Fred Baker (baritone); 8.23 and 9.33, the Sayers Duo (musical sketches); 8.44 and 9.53, Mrs. Wallace Good (soprano); iO.O, spo'-rts results; 10.10. dance music.