OVER THE AERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 46, 23 February 1934, Page 14

OVER THE AERIAL.

RADIO NOTES. FROM FAR AND NEAR. , (By PHONOS.) The cricket talk by Don Bradman to be broadcast through the four YA stations at 10 o'clock to-morrow night is expected to last 15 minutes. The monthly grand opera broadcast from IYA 011 Sunday night is "La Tosca." Apollo Granforte is recorded in the role of Baron Scarpia. 2YA will broadcast the Pontifical High Mass to be celebrated at the Hill Street Basilica, Wellington, at 10 sum. on Sunday to mark the diamond jubilee of Archbishop Redwood. The public reception in the Town Hall at 8 p.m. 011 Tuesday will also be relayed by 2YA. Radio valves in Japan are priccd as low as lOd each, giving the English equivalent for Japanese money. It must be remembered, however, that these valves are of Japanese manufacture, and those who have had experience of cheap Eastern light bulbs would not like to pin their faith and their reception upon something of similar standard of reliability. Dunedin has been informed that it also is to have an alternative programme service from the Broadcasting Board. A use has been found for the old Wellington station, 2ZW, purchased last year bv the Government. It has been overhauled and improved, and will be sent south as Otago's equivalent of our IYX. Another innovation which the Southern city will shortly experience is a breakfast session from 4YA, which should commence within a month. The 8.8.C.'s experiences must form a valuable guide to broadcasting services elsewhere. It has experienced dieappointment of the hopes it held for "broadcasting serious dramatic productions. An anticipation of better quality and quantity in original radio plays was not realised, but, as an offset, adaptations to the microphone of, popular stage productions proved remarkably successful during 1933. Quick moving adventure stories, adaptations from novels with weird plots and thrilling situations, have had a distinct appeal to the vast radio public, estimated at 25,000,000, that forms an average 8.8.C. audience.

The writer listened in to 3YA on Monday night particularly to hear accounts of tlie swimming championships, which were very well given. When the change back to the studio came, however, one could not help being struck by a*peculiarity in the announcing, a peculiarity that is not confined to Christchurch. 3YA's announcer possesses a natural voice of excellent quality, and hie enunciation is distinct, but he concluded every one of eight successive statements with a rising inflexion of his voice that eventually became almost irritating in its artificiality. Now the dozen radio announcers employed by the Broadcasting Board will probably exert a most marked influence, as the years progress, upon the national speech of New Zealand. It is remarkable how any little idiosyncrasies of announcers are mimicked and repeated daily in various walks of life, but it is an indication that people do listen, and note. If they copy good-humouredly any peculiarities, it is natural to suppose that they will imitate, perhaps subconsciously, a form of speech which they hear frequently and accept as of high standard. It behoves the board, therefore, to be particular in its choice of announcers, and also to be dependent upon some recognised authority for the criticism and regulation of their speech. It is not imagined that the board possesses on its headquarters staff any authority of sufficient standing to be entrusted with this task, the effects of which may not be noticeable till years hence. We are aware of what the 8.8.C. has done in securing purity of speech and correctness of pronunciation among its announcers, and one notes in the official statements which come - through the Daventry short-wave station a pleasing naturalness in the inflexions of the speakers, and not a continual resort to an affectation which is growing on the air in New Zealand. In passing it may be remarked that in Auckland the air is not altogether free from that nasal quality of announcing from which it is very desirable to protect our national speech.

For some months there has been much uncertainty over what may be termed the royalty-payment position. During the past few years, 3/ of every 30/ contributed by every license-holder in the Dominion has been paid over by the Government to Amalgamated Wireless, Ltd., as representatives of the holders of patents in broadcasting and receiving apparatus. Last year the New Zealand Government gave notice of its intention to terminate this payment, and speculation has been rife as to the manner in which any future levy on listeners or manufacturers would be made. In fact this question- has been quite a burning one in our growing radio-set industry, manufacturers being perturbed as to what the future held for them. The situation has been clarified by an agreement between Australia radio manufacturers and the holders of patent rights, whereby the former will pay to the latter a royalty of 3/0 for each valve-socket in any receiver produced and sold. This will have the effect of increasing the sale price of receivers by £1 or more, but will absolve purchasers from any claims upon them by patent-holders. It appears a much more satisfactory method of . payment than the old annual levy, and will leave the Broadcasting Commission-—or the Government—with 12£ per cent more of the Australian licensee's payment. In New Zealand tiie old agreement of 3/ pen-licensee does riot expire till about May next, but after that time it is anticipated that an agreement on the lines of the Commonwealth one will also operate here. When the 3/ per license —altogether a sum of over £15,000—remains in New Zealand, instead of being paid abroad, perhaps some consideration will be given to reducing the annual fee by that amount. This, is may be pointed out, is a matter for consideration by the Government, not by the board. _____. ■ j ■ FROM IYA NEXT WEEK. Sunday, 7 p.m., service Trom Baptist Tabernacle; 8.30, recorded presentation of "La Tosca." Monday (to IZH), 8 p.m., and subsequently, the orchestra; 8.12, radio travelogue; 9.2, A. B. Chappell, further "Men or the Treaty." Tuesday (to IZH), 8- p.m., recorded programme; 9.2, John Caughley, "Tropical Isles" series. Wednesday, 8;26 and 8.49, Len Barnes (baritone), 9.2, Alan MuJgan, "World Affairs." Thursday, 8 p.m. and 8.38, the Baileys in 'sketches;' " 9'.2, 'R. O. Courtney, "Open Spaces of Queensland"; 0.20, Reg. Morgan (baritone). Friday, 8 p.m. and subsequently, the orchestra; 9.2, John Harris, "Seaports of Southern France"; 9.28 and 9.42, Sarah Stacpoole and Frank Sutherland. Saturday, 8 p.m., recorded variety programme; 9.2, Old Wire Whiskers; 10:0,, Don Bradmun.