OVER THE AERIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 16

OVER THE AERIAL.

RADIO NOTES. FROM FAR AND NEAR.

(By TUNE-IN.)

From Sweden comes a proposal for an international monument to Marconi. Tlie site suggested is on a giant rock overlooking the ocean near St. John, Newfoundland, where Marconi first succeeded in picking up" trans-Atlantic radio signals. The decision of the Government to provide coverage £or Southland and Hawke's Bay by the erection of fivekilowatt stations has led to a smilar demand from Taranaki, or at least from Stratford, where it is suggested that 2YC should be stepped up to that power. With 2YA and IYA so close, it is not likely that the request will be complied w-ith.

The original 8.8.C. coat of arms had a Latin tag which declared that "Nation shall speak unto nation." This inscription has been . deleted, in recognition of the fact that nation speaks against nation, something which appears to have escaped the notice of some prominent and some not so prominent New Zealanders who continue to assert that radio is the greatest factor for the promotion of universal peace.

An endeavour to get tlie radio viewpoint of all types of dwellers in different parts of Canterbury, Otago and Southland led to some unexpected conclusions, says the "Timaru Herald." Most surprising of all was that not 10 per cent of listeners appear to favour uplift or "schoolbook" education in programmes; the vast majority desire entertainment. Melody and humour (not to be confused with frivolity) seem to be the popular ingredients for the radio pie. Another preconceived idea that had to be reversed was that plays are growing in favour, just the reverse appears to be the case. A majority verdict was that too much heavy music and too many modern dance tunes are broadcast; and very obviously more in-'between items are desired. There was fairly general agreement that the "news" sessions are uninteresting, mainly because the news is stale. That was not unexpected, but it was surprising to learn just how many people, of both sexes, are regular listeners to race and wrestling descriptions, and to find that there was little variation in the tastes of people in different provinces, or between those of town and country listeners. Recordings have .many more admirers than local "talent," but .church relays meet with more approbation than had been supposed. Talks on" world affairs and home science do not arouse much enthusiasm "i'he main impression gathered was that the great body of listeners desire brighter and more tuneful programmes, and that this need is being only partly supplied by the low-powered B's and the bustling commercials.

On Sunday IZM is to broadcast for the last time from Manurewa. Starting on Monday at 5 p.m. IZM will broadcast on tlie same frequency from the new transmitter at Henderson, where lYA's transmitter is housed. Two line studios, a control room and an office have been built on the floor below the studios of IYA and IYX in the National Broadcasting Service's building in Shortland Street, apd from there all future broadcasting is to tie done. Mr. W. W. Rodgers, listeners will be glad to know, is to remain in charge of the station and will also act as programme organiser. The new transmitter was built ill the workshops of the National Broadcasting Service. In future IZM should speak with a better and clearer voice.

On December 20 at 11 p.m. (New Zealand summer time) a broadcast of interest to all will be transmitted by VOOB, "the voice of Labrador," on 14,280 kilocycles. This broadcast should prove particularly interesting, as it is probably the first time that the people of the Frozen North have had the opportunity of speaking to the outside world, many of them never having seen a street car or a theatre. This broadcast will be radiated towards Australia and New Zealand, and VOOB will greatly appreciate reports. All reports should be addressed to Miss D. D. Hall, W2IXY, 186-18, Williamson Avenue, Springfield, Long Island, New York, as she conducts a daily schedule with VO6B and will read all reports to him, as during the winter months there is no chance of receiving mail in Labrador. All reports will be acknowledged upon VOOB returning to New York in January, 1038. FROM IYA NEXT WEEK. Sunday—9.o a.m., recording's; 11.0, relay or service Horn St. Mark's Anglican Church; 1.0 p.m., dinner music; 2.0 to 4.30, selected recordings, featuring, at :5.30, a group or songs by Yrjo Kilpinen and sung by Gerhard llusch; 8.3U, concert by the Auckland Municipal Band, relayed rrom Albert Park. Monday—7.lo p.m., holiday health talk by Mr. F. L. Armitage; 7.50, road saTety talk; 8.0, concert programme, reaturing a studio presentation by Zoe Bartley-Baxter and players or the play "Queer .Street"; 18.23, an eye witness' recorded account of I the airship "Hindenburg" disaster, Dickens sketches by Will 1. Howe; 9.5, talk by Mr. !J. W. Shaw, M.A., "Christmas in Local Literature," items by the studio orchestra and David Lunny. tenor; 10.0 to 11.0, music, mirth ind- melody. Tuesday—7.3o p.m., talk by the gardenIn? expert: 8.0, concert programme, featuring Hangi and Hine in Maori local duets, with guitar accompaniment and recordings; 9.0, -talk by the Hon. n. Semple, Minister of Transport, in connection with the road safety campaign; 9.12, talk on "World AfTairs" by Mr. L. K. t Munro; 9.25 to 11.0, dance music, i Wednesday—7.3o p.m., • book review; 8.0, concert programme featuring Godfrey TlfTen, bass-baritone; 9.5, a debate, 1 "Should Prizes be Given at School," hei tween Professor R. M. Algie and Mr. A. R. D. Fairburn, followed by recordings; 10.0 to 11.0, music, mirth and melody. Thursday—7.3o p.m., talk by Mr. W. T. G. Airey,' "How Society Works—lnternational Society"; 8.0, special programme, featuring "The Man in the Street," presenting "The L!-re of Caruso in Story and Song-"; 8.40, light music and dark mystery at the "Care Continental"; 9.25, hall" an hour with the Comedy Harmonists: 10.0 to 11.0, "Swing As We Go," an hour of dance music with the swing bands, with interludes by Mary Lou Williams. Friday—6.4 5 p.m., broadcast or special Christmas message by the Prime Minister; 7.30, sports talk by Gordon Hutter; 8.0, concert programme of recordings; 9.5, a! carol programme by a party of carol, i gingers, arranged and conducted by Mr. | Colin Muston, L.R.A.M., with recorded i i vocal and instrumental interludes; 12, mid- i night, relay or Midnight Mass rrom St. Patrick's Cathedral, preacher, ills Lordship, Bishop Liston. _ Saturday (Christmas DBy)—9.o a.m., recordings; 10.0, combined church service, relayed rrom the Baptist tabernacle; 11.0, Christmas service, relayed rrom St. Matthew's Anglican Church, preacher, His Grace Archbishop Averill; 1.0 p.m., dinner music; 2.0 to 4.30, selected recordings; 6.0, children's song service; 8.0, concert programme, reaturing "Shakespeare or Bacon?" a programme showing how the villagers or Stoke-in-the-wold chose their 1 Shakespearean play; the National Four, Eva Simson. soprano; Winirred Coke, pianist; Colin Wood and recordings, the station I closing at 10 p.m. — I