OVER THE AERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 15

OVER THE AERIAL.

RADIO NOTES. from far and near. (By TUNE-IN.) American radio reporters are to be seen daily in the environs of Addis Ababa. Each carries a sandwich board bearing the words: "Radio reporter. Do not shoot." A Melbourne man has issued a challenge to the Australian radio authorities by asking if they are game to shut off the A class stations for a full week, and see if any listeners notice the omission. So far the challenge has not been accepted. France is reputed to be the home of radio smugglers, some estimates placing the number of unlicensed receivers as high as oO per cent of the total. Among the latest measures taken to deal with culprits is the doubling of the listening fee if licenses are not taken out by a certain day. This brought in registrations at the rate of 10,000 per day just prior to the penalty date, but it is stated that this effected only a small reduction in the number of "joyriders." The talk given by Mr. J. F. Montague on Sunday last from IZM, entitled "Venice, Queen of the Adriatic," was the first of a series of "Little Journeys to Famous Places," to be given on alternate Sunday evenings. Mr. Montague's next talk will be on Sunday, February 2, at 7.30 p.m. Next week at IZB is going to be a special one as far as programmes are concerned. Uncle Scrim last week brought back from Australia a number of feature programmes of special recordings. Each record runs for 15 minutes, and they include opera, musical comedy and plays of various descriptions. The new features. will be heard during the coming week from the Friendly Road station. French postmen are empowered to collect radio license fees. To encourage them in the pursuit of the radio "poacher," M. Mandel, the P.M.G., has decided that for every license fee collected, the postman shall receive a commission of two francs. Another device for outwitting the non-paying listener is the new decree that dealers, when selling a set, must send a declaration to the post office in the area in which the purchaser resides. M. Mandel is not acting too soon, for recent investigations go to show that at least a third of the sets in use in France are unlicensed.

Now that battery sets are so few, not many town dwellers realise the state of perfection to which equipment for the countryman's receiver has been brought. A few years ago a battery "box," containing A, B and C batteries, was a thing of ugliness, and cumbersome to a degree, but to-day specially Sesigned batteries are housed in the console, and until one peeps into the works there is nothing to indicate the difference between the two types of receivers. Batteries last much longer than of old, and while they require moro attention than a power switch, while the cells are well charged a battery set gives quieter reception than even the best electric.

An outstanding eulogy on the late King George was given by Mr. F. E. Baume oi ! Sydney from IZB on Wednesday evening. A fitting introduction to Mr. Baume's talk was Rudyard Kipling's "Recessional," spoken over a background of appropriate music. As the music slowly faded away Mr. Baume commenced liis moving address. He touched on the point of* Kipling's great life and his. wonderful . "Recessional" hymn as being written for one man —the King. As the final words were spoken the roll of drums could be heard in the background, and the National Anthem, brought up to a crescendo, concluded a very touching and sincere tribute from the Friendly Road to one who was loved by all.

Owing to the King's death on Tuesday all the local stations revised their programmes, which.have since been following a Sunday schedule. Until after the funeral on Tuesday next all dance sessions and inappropriate talks, as well as numerous other sessions, have been cancelled in the meantime. IYA will rebroadcast any special Daventry programmes. Although none has yet been fixed (apart from the description of the King's funeral next week) station officials are standing by in case instructions are received to rebroadcast the Empire short wave station. There will be no dance programme broadcast by IZM to-niorrow night, and no afternoon session. The station will be on the air only between the hours of 6 and 10 p.m. On Tuesday a special memorial service will be broadcast from IZM at 8 p.m. On Sunday evening the Onehunga Citizens' Band will play a suitable programme from IZMi

FIROM IYA NEXT WEEK. Sunday—9.o a.m., selected recordings; 11.0, relay of service from St. Mary's Cathedral of special memorial service for King: George; _l.fr to 2.0 p.m., recorded dinner music; 2.0 to 4.30, selected recording-s; 7.0, relay or service rrom Beresrord Street Congregational Church; 8.30, recorded presentation of the opera "La Travlata" by Verdi. Monday—S.O p.m., concert programme, featuring a piano recital by Mr. Edgar L. Bainton, Mus.Doc., F.H.C.M. director or the State Conservatorlum, New South Wales, also a recital by the baritone, Clement Q. Williams. Tuesday—il.o ajn., relay or citizens' memorial service at Domain; 8.0 p.m., con- : cert programme, featuring Miss nussellFerguson. soprano; 9.5, talk on "World Affairs" by Mr. H. G. Bell. Wednesday—From 11.15 a.m., running commentary on the Takapuna Jockey Club's : meeting held at Ellerslie; 2.0 p.m., description or scenes 011 the harbour during Anniversary Regatta; 8.0, chamber' music, hour, featuring recorded numbers by famous artists; 9.20 to 10.0, miscellaneous recordings. Thursday-—ll.O a.m., commentary on the Sanders Cup race, sailed on Auckland Harbour; 8.0 p.m., concert programme, featuring Mr. Edward L. Bainton, Mus.Doc., F.R.C.M.; Mr. Clement Q. Williams, baritone, and Mrs. Hussell-rarguson, soprano; 9.20 to 10.0, recorded band programme by the Grenadier Guards Band; 10.0 to 1,1.0, music, mirth and melody session. Friday—ll.o a.m., commentary on the Sanders Cup race; 7.30 p.m., sports talk by Gordon Hutter; 8.0, concert programme, featuring, between 8.0 and 9.0, "Poetlclsm in Music"; 9.5, talk by Vice-Admiral J. E. T. Harper, "The Sea and the Air"; followed by recordings until 10.0; 10.0 to I 1.0, music, mirth and melody session. Saturday- 2 -! 1.0 a.m., commentary on'the Sanders Cup race; 7.30 p.m., talk by the gardening expert, "The Development of the Garden"; S.O, concert programme, featuring Mrs. Hussell Ferguson, soprano; Mr. Clement Q. Williauxs, baritone and Gordon • Short, pianist; «.5 to 11.30, modern dance music, recorded.