OVER THE AERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 156, 3 July 1936, Page 13

OVER THE AERIAL.

RADIO NOTES. prom: far and near. (Bv TUNE-IN.) In the event of the Government's commercial stations proving unprofitable, it appears that the loss is to be a charge against listeners' license fees, and not against the Consolidated Fund. The "chatty" style of announcing introduced by Australian National stations a few months ago is beginning to pall. One of the worst examples is the "continuity" supplied by the commission's script-writers for programmes by Howard Jacobs' dance band. An irate Sydney listener describes this as preposterous blurb, meaningless chatter and witless text. In view of Professor Sewell'e recent talk to the Rotary Club on English and the controversy which followed his remarks, a broadcast by the professor from IYA on Thursday next at 7.40 should be of special interest. His talk is to be "What Is Good English?" So we shall hear good English from the critic himself. This- week's controversial hour from IZM by the IZM Debating Club on Tuesday night was a particularly fine performance, the topic of the debate being - , "Should Gambling be State Controlled." The amount of disputative argument and information which was submitted by the three speakers on either side in a lively and well balanced debate was extremely interesting, and served to illustrate what a fine feature of radio entertainment this form of broadcast may be made. The next debate, scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, promises to be equally interesting, the subject chosen being, "That Euthanasia Should be Made Legal." The New Zealand Broadcasting Board claims the British Broadcasting Corporation as its model. Here is what the special radio writer ©f the London "Daily Mail" has to say concerning the 8.8.C.: —"The only way effectively to treat the amazing outlook of the 8.8.C. hierarchy and their utter aloofness from such mundane matters as co-operation with the public is to laugh them out of it. Having, as a corporate body, no sense of humour themselves, they do not understand any listener who refuses to take them seriously. If the 8.8.C. officials would only forget their pomposity for a moment, scrap all this i mania for administration, and frankly announce that they realise they are put in their jobs for the sole purpose of doing what is most wanted by the fellows who pay for front seats —namely ourselves —we might get a move on." Under the new Broadcasting Act the New Zealand Broadcasting Board has ceased to function, the broadcasting services now being under the direct control of the Government, with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, as Minister of Broadcasting. The board went out of existence at midnight on June 30, and the very next morning even the letter-heads and stationery bearing the words, "New Zealand Broadcasting Board," were heavily cancelled, ancl printed above this heading was the new name of the radio authority, "National Broadcasting Service." The broadcasting board came into being on January 1, 1932, when it took over the national stations from the Radio Broadcasting Company. The personnel of the board was increased last year, the members of the board being Messrs. H. D. Vickery (chairman), G. R. Hutchinson, W. H. Cocker, E. Palliser, H. G. -Livingstone, J. L. Passmore and Dr. S. K. Phillips. The chairman received a salary of £650 a year and the members £250 a year each.

How many listeners know the name of the ''good-night" record played by IYA on closing down each night's broadcast? Recently a number of listeners have inquired from "Tune In'' if he knew the title of the disc, and he had to admit that he did not. "One thing about IYA'S 'good-night' melody is that you don't get tired of it, although one hears it so often," said a listener. The title of the record is kept a close secret at IYA. In fact, the record is "sealed," that is to say, there is no name of the melody or the orchestra which plays it shown on the record. For the benefit of those who wish to know the "good-night" melody is a stock record and may be purchased at any music store. It. is known as "Souvenir," composed by Pazeller, and is played by the Dajos Bela Orchestra. i FROM IYA NEXT WEEK. Sunday—9.o a.m., selected recording's; 11.0, relay of service l'rom St. Andrew's Presbyterian Churcli! 1.0 to 2.0 p.m., dinner music; 2.0 to 4.30, selected recording's, featuring, at 3.30 p.m. a recorded abridged version or "Tlie Merry Wives or Windsor," by the soloists, chorus and orchestra or the Berlin State Opera House; 7.0, service to be relayed rrom St. Matthew's Anglican Church; 8.30, concert by the Auckland Municipal Band, relayed rrom the Town Hall; 9.5 until 10.30, Oscar Wilde's comedy, "The Importance of Being Ernest," presented In the studio by members or the J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company. > Monday—7.3o, agricultural talk by Mr. C. Walker, "Pasture Establishment and Maintenance In the Bay or Plenty"; 8.0 concert programme, featuring the radio play, "Getting the Bird," produced l>y Hex Sayers; 8.20, a recorded feature, "Scot or Scotland Yard," The Case or the Nabob's Vengeance; 9.5, ringside commentray on the boxing match, relayed from the Town Hall; 10.0 to 11.0, music, mirth and melody. Tuesday—2.o p.m., educational session from Training College, Epsom; 7.30, book review; 8.0, concert programme of recorded features; 9.5, talk by Arpad Szigetvary, "Some Little Known Countries of Europe"; 9.20- to 11.0, dance music. Wednesday—l2.3o p.m., community singing, relayed from His Majesty's Theatre; 8.0, chamber music programme, featuring Dorothy Ryan and Haydn Murray, presenting Beethoven's "Sonata in F"; 9.5, talk by D'Arcy Cresswell, "The Odyssey of Homer"; followed by recordings or a light nature; 10.0 to 11.0, music, mirth and melody. Thursday—7.3o p.m., talk by Mrs. B. F. Richards, "In the News"; 7.40, talk by Proressor Sewell, "What Is Good English"; 8.0, concert programme featuring music by New Zealand composers; 9.5, recorded talk by Mr. Justice Blair, "Gentlemen of the Road," No. 3; 9.20, a recital of band music; 10.0 to 11.0, dance music with intreludes by Elsie Carlisle. Friday—7.3o p.m., sports talk by Gordon Hutter; 8.0, concert programme featuring the string orchestra and Harold Taylor, 'cellist, also Gwenda Weir, soprano; 9.5, talk by Mrs. M. B. Soljak, "Woman's Part In Peace Making"; 9.20 to 10.0, recorded presentation by Vladimir Horowitzm, pianist, and the London Symphony Orchestra of "Concerto in D Minor," by RachmaninolT; 10.0 to 11.0, music, mirth and melody. Saturday—B.o p.m., concert programme, featuring the Auckland Dorian Choir, and at 9.5, "The Radio Night Club"; 10.10 to 11.15, dance music by Lauri Paddi's band, relayed from the Peter Pan Cabaret.