OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21732, 14 March 1936, Page 24

OVER THE AIR

PROGRAMMES AND COMMENT

[By ARIEL] ' There is a 3YA school broadcasting committee. It is not known to the general public because it has not advertised and because its programmes take place in the afternoons. The director of the committee is Professor James Shelley, the secretary is Mr A. J. Campbell, M.A., tit the Christchurch Training College. I have seen the booklet published by the Broadcasting Board on behalf of the Christchurch Broadcasting Committee. It contains 84 interesting and reasonably well printed pages and gives the programme of school radio education from March to October, 1936. . The questions that confront those who are enthusiastic on the matter of school radio education are as follows; (1) What shall be broadcast to schools? ■.'•';./ (2) Who is to broadcast to schools? '.-..'" (3) How should broadcast lessons be used in schools? (4) Why are not more schools taking broadcast lessons? The committee has answered the first question by concentrating on history. Or to put it in a less bald manner, "the keynote of the course is again that Of man's adventuring, but not so much in relation to particular personalities and subjects, as to peoples in their conquest of civilisation. We have, planned. to deal wfth three great eras of adventuring, thought out in association with the seas that gave them a certain amount of unity: the Mediterranean era, the Atlantic era, and: the Pacific era." The answer to the second question is that in Canterbury radio school education is to be mainly,in the hands of Canterbury College and the Christchurch Training College. The third question is answered by the committee in its booklet. It is apparent that a strong attempt at unity has been made. The radio lessons are not dissociated one from another, but follow a broad attempt at historical continuity. The fourth question is ' unansweredi nor: can I,'unless lean some time spare an hour or so to listen to these lessons in progress, attempt any comment. The point is that the. conception of these radio lessdns is very good, the booklet is Interesting and likely r to stimulate the* teachers concerned. But the prbof of the pudding will be ih,ithe eating; it is necessary to have good cooks as well as good recipes. If the various schools have an intelligent idea of this aspect of education the result should be excellent. ■ ' < The Pageant of Man The radio lessons commence with a talk about the way in which people have wandered, and settled, and built fine cities, and wandered again; and settled, and built, all, through the ages. Then comes the story oft Moses for one class and for another the: story of agriculture in Egypt. Talk three., is called "Man Begins to Write." We are; still in Egypt, and there is a story about the people of the Nile lands. Talk follows talk. There is the story of Ulysses. As the booklet says, "We thrill before his fearless spirit, unbroken by adventure and perils, his belated return to his royal palace disguised as a beggar, recognised only by one faithful friend, his neglected do* Argus, who feebly wags a loving greeting as he breathes his last." (And by the way, I'm not very fond of that sentence.) Then comes the rise of Athens and Sparta. The beautiful question is asked, "Compare Sparta and Athens with Christchurch." We—or rather the school children—are led gently to the story of Solomon, "the wise man with so many beautiful and charming wives," to Hannibal and the long struggle between Rome and Carthage, to Julius Csesar. And the Mediterranean series ends with "A visit to Ancient Rome." Then we reach the Christian era. And the keynote to this series may be expressed by a phrase of Professor Shelley. "We think a great deal about the invention and spread of material things, and we do not think enough of the way in which great ideas arise and spread through the minds of men." Saladiri. the crusades, Tamerlane, who built the famous golden, city of Samarkand, the rise of the city of Venice, the fall of Constantinople, Copernicus, Vasco da Gama, who found the new way to the East, the discovery of America, the Spanish conquest of South America, and the dawn of the machine age. AH these subjects are treated not only simply and interestingly, but intelligently. And then,we come to the final talk? of the series ,i-,uii,'; Here "we follow man to the new lands bordering'the Pacific Ocea*fl'.- m The history of New Zealand is told in terms of the early inhabitants of the country. The story of the coming of the Maoris, the early explorations of Tasman and Cook, are told in, simple language. And as the booklet says, "We began away back some thousands of years before the birth of Christ, and we finished up in the year 1936. To-day we shall just look back over those years and see how much of the present we owe to the past. As we talk of our buildings, our ships, our food, our customs we shall find their beginnings in the f,ar away ages. This is one of the reasons Why we study the past. It enables us to understand the present." Some Problems These school broadcasts, conceived and brought to fruitipn in a quiet, unassuming manner, represent probably the most ambitious attempt at realising one of the great potentialities of radio. They mean very definitely that the children of 1936 and living irt New Zealand will get a world-vision of history. They mean that children's education of the future will not consist merely of memorising facts. Incidentally, my only criticism of this very admirable work is as follows: in England the school broadcast talks are given by school teachers, training college lecturers, university lecturers, and outside specialists. It is recognised by the. British Broadcasting Corporation that there is such, a thing as' "broadcasting personality." The qualities requisite in a good broadcaster to , schools cars. ]bfe tested 4ad I only at the-TDfjic»ophohe> :s :? The.field from which broadcasters are drawn i cannot* then, be limited f to .practis* sjgg teacher&f Hniversfty lecturers-

and outside experts, bringing the fruits of their own special knowledge and experience, have proved to be successful broadcasters to schools. Indeed, of a total number of 32 speakers, half were teachers and lecturers, and ,the other half were drawn from outside sources. In New Zealand apparently the great majority of these talks are given by training college and uni-! versity professors and lecturers. I may, of course, be told that if is impossible to obtain the services of outside experts, that there is none to.be found outside the universities and training colleges. And in this case my criticism falls to the ground. Finally, as a suggestion, there is no price marked on this booklet issued by the broadcasting board. It is apparently issued only to the teachers. Would it not be a good idea if it were published:;;at the price of twopence or threepence, and issued':in a slightly simplified form to all pupils taking part in these broadcasts? It seems to me that the children, already enthusir astic over these broadcasts, would be more so were they able more fully to grasp their purpose.

BROADCASTING

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMMES

3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (720 Kilocycles) ' 7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 11.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 11.2: Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.30: Sports results. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Riddleman. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signals. 8.0: Chimes. Recordings. Symphony Orchestra. "The Bat" overture (J. Strauss). 8.9: Raymond Newell and Company, with orchestra, military band, bagpipes, drums (descriptive ballad), "The Deathless Army" (Trotere). 8.17: Clapham and Dwyer (humorous sketch), "At the Races' (Clapham and Dwyer). 8.22: Heinz Huppertz (violin) "Poem" (Fibich); "Moss Rose" (Bosc). 8.28: Richard Crooks (tenor),' "A Dream of Paradise" (Gray); "O Song Divine" (Temple). 8.34: Rudy Starita (xylophone). "On the Beach with You" I (Green). 8.37: Gladys Moncrieff (soprano). "Sorrow and Tears" (Trytel): "One Night of Love" (Schertzinger). 8.43: The London Palladium Orchestra, "The Leek" selection (Middleton). 8.52: Columbia Vocal Gem Company, "Mercenary Mtery" vocal gems. 9.0: Weather report arid station notices. 9.5: Presentation of 8.8. C. recorded programme, "Following in Father's Footsteps." Devised by Wallace Orton and produced by Charles BreVer. This is a variety programme, featuring famous sons and daughters of famous fathers in the theatrical world. Among the many artists are: Ena Grossmith, daughter of the late -George Grossmith: Pat Burke, daughter of Tom Burke (and of Marie Burke); Dan Leno, jun., son of the late Dan Leno. The programme is compiled by Ralph Coram, son of Coram of the ventriloquial act, "Coram arid Jerry." 10.5: Sports summary. 10.15: Dance music, Alternative station, 3YL, 1200 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. /7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Orchestral masterpieces. IYA. AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles)

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service. 10.15: Selected recordings. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 3.15: Sports results. 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Cinderella. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and rejorts. 7.30: Talk, the gardening expert, "Bulb Growing." 8.0: Concert programme, featuring the Royal Auckland Choir, conducted by Dr. W. E. Thomas, Mus. Doc. (Oxon). 8.13: Pablo Cassals, violoncello recital. 8.28: The Choir. 8.40: Recordings: A harpslcord recital by Wanda Landowska. 8.50: The Choir. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: The String Orchestra, conducted by Harold Baxter. "Irish Whispers" waltz (Ancliffe). 9.9: Recordings: Norman Long, entertainer at the piano. 9.15: Harold Ramsay, organ. 9.18: The String Orchestra. 9.24: Recordings: "A Radio Party," presented by the Radio Rogues. 9.34: The String Orchestra. 9.42: Recordings: Flanagan Brothers, comedians. 9.48: Harry Breuer. marimba. 9.54: The String Orchestra. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. Alternative station, IYX, 880 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Light popular programme: 9.0: "Life on the Ocean Wave," a light continuity programme.

2YA, WELLINGTON (570 Kilocycles)

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Chimes. Selected recordings. 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory.. 11.16: Talk, prepared by the A.C.E., Home Science Tutorial Section of Otago University, "Bottling French Beans, Peas and Poultry." 12 noon: Running commentary'on the events of the Wellington Racing Club's autumn meeting, interspersed • with selected recordings from the studio (Ist day) (relayed from Trentham), announcer, Mr D. Guiney. 5.0: Children's hour, conducted by Uncle Jasper. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 8.0: Chimes. A popular-programme. Recordings: The B:B.C. Theatre Orchestra, under the direction of Stanford Robinson. 8.10: Recording: Les Allen and his Canadian Bachelors (vocal). 8.16: Recording: Len Green (piano solo) with drums. 8.22: "Abroad with the Lockharts," an American business man and his wife on tour. 8.38: Recording: Sol Hoopii and his Hawaiian Quartette (Hawaiian Novelty). 8.39: Recording: Richard Tauber (tenor). 8.42: Recording: Harry Breuer (Marimba with violin, 'cello and guitar). "Buffoon" frey). 8.45: 4Biss E. Holland (humorous icharacter, sketches). 8.56: Recording: Andre Kostelanetz and his Orchestra. "Rumba" fantasy. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Programme of modern dance music. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Continuation of programme of modern dance music. Alternative station, 2YC, 840 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Concerted vocal and solo instrumental recital. 9.0: Variety and vaudeville programme. 4YA, DUNEDIN 1790 Kilocycles)

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10.15: Devotional service. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 5,0: Children's session, conducted by Aunt Anita. 6.0: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 8.0: Chimes. Light orchestral and ballad concert. The Concert, Orchestra, conducted by James Dixon. 8.14: Anne White, soprano. 8.26: The Orchestra, "Song of Loyalty" (Coates); "Cricket's Serenade" a June romance (Wilder). 8.36; James MacFarlane, tenor. 8.48: The Orchestra, selection of Easthope Martin's songs (arr. Geehl). 9.0: Dance music. 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. Alternative station. 4YO. 1140 kilocycles. -5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Light music and humour—a popular programme. 9.0: Band programme, with humorous and dramatic interludes, featuring at 9.18 "The Yellow Eye," a famous diamond drama: and at 9.34. "The srltJ5 rIt Jr Sh „ fantasia (Jullien), played by H.M. Grenadier Guards' Band. DAVENTRY, ENGLAND (GSB 31.55 metres, GSN 25.58 metres. New Zealand summer time.) 7.15 p.m.: Big Ben. Latest dance numbers. 7.25: Talk, "The Conquest of the Air." 7.45: A recital by Marie Hall, violinist. 8.15: "Songs Out of the West." 9: The news. v. SUNDAY

No. 97 (aMdagio—vivace; (b) adagio ma. non troppo; (c) menuetto and trio;- (d) finale—presto asaal (Haydn). 3.24: Selected recordings. 4.0; Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 5.30: Children's song'service, conducted by the Rev. Roger Taylor, assisted Jt>y the Cathedral Grammar. School Choir.. '6.15: Selected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening service '.'froni. St. Mary's Anglican , Church. Preacher, Bev. A. K. Warren,. organist and choirmaster, Mr Alfred Worsley. 8.15: Selected recordings. 8.30: Recording: . The 8.8. C. Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Adrian Boult, "Coriolan" overture, Op. 62. 8.38: A. G. Thompson (baritone), "The Organ Grinder"; "The Linden Tree": "The Wraith" (Schubert). 8.48: Recording: Sir Hamilton Harty, conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra, "Wa*ter Music" suite (a) allegro: (b) air: (c) bouree; (d) hornpipe; (e) andante; (f) allegro deciso (Handel). '9.0: Weather report and station notices. 5.5: Leo Cherniavsky, world-famous violinist (Accompanist, Maynard Wilkinson), (a) "Humoresque" (Dvorak, Wilhemj); (b) "Spanish Serenade" (Chaminade) (Kreisler); (c) j valse in A Minor (Brahms. Hocktein); (d) -"La Capricleuse?' (Elgar); (e) "Serenade" (Schubert). Remenji); (f) "Perpetuum Mobile" (Novacek). ,9.29: Recordings: Emmy .Bettendorf (soprano). "Moonlight" (Schumann). 9.38: Kugene Ormandy and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120, (a) introduction—allegro; (b) romanza; (c) scherzo; (d) lento—finale (Schumann). Alternative station, 3YL. 6.0 p.m.: Musical programme. 8.30: Band programme with popular interludes.

IYA, AUCKLAND

9.0 a'.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from the Salvation Army Congress Hall. Preacher, Adjutant V. J. Dick, bandmaster, Mr T. Paice. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.0: Recordings: Ecole Normale Chamber -Orchestra, presents "Brandenburg" Concerto No. 1 in F Major (Bach). 3.46: Selected recordings. 6.0: Children's song service. 7.0: Evening service, relayed from West Street Church of Christ. Preacher, Pastor Wiliam Campbell. 8.30: Conr cert by the Municipal Band, relayed from Albert Park. Alternative station, IYX. 6.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8.30: Classical programme. 9.0: Symphonic programme by the Berlin State Opera House Orchestra. ' '■•

2YA, WELLINGTON

9.0 a.m.: Chimes. Recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from , St. Peter's Anglican Church, Willis street. Preacher, Ven. Archdeacon Bullock, organist and choirmaster. Mr S. B. Shortt. 1.0 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Recordings: An abridged presentation of "The Gipsy Princess," a comic operetta in three acts by Emmerich Kalman, by soloists, chorus and orchestra of the Berlin State Opera House, conducted by Herman Wiegeft. 2.35: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals from the Dominion Observatory. 6.0: Children's song service, conducted by Uncle William, assisted by the children's choir from All Saints' Sunday school, Kilbirnie. 7.0; Relay of evening service from St. Gerard's Redemptorist Church. Hawker Street, choirmaster, Mr Frank J. Oakes, organist, Mr Henry Mount. 8.15 (approx.): Selected recordings. 8.30: A miscellaneous operatic programme. The 2YA Concert Orchestra, conductor, Mr Leon de Mauny, "The Magic Flute" overture (Mozart). 8.39: Recording: Maria Cebotari, soprano. 8.45: Recording: Robert Easton and Heddle Nash, vocal duet. 8,49; The 2YA Concert Orchestra. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Talk, Sir Charles Statham, "Parliament from the Speaker's Chair." 9.25': Excerpts from the opera "Maritana," by Vincent Wallace, featuring Miriam Licette, Dennis Noble, Clara Serena, Heddle Nash and Grand Opera Company with Orchestra, conducted by Clarence Raybould. Alternative station, 2YC. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: A programme by three famous British bands. 8.8. C. Wireless Military Band; Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards; and Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards., with vocal and instrumental interludes.

4YA, DUNEDIN

9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from St., Andrew Street Church of Christ. Preacher, Pastor W. D. More, choirmaster, Mr G. Hickey, organist Miss E. White. 1.0 p.m.: Lunch music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 2.30: Rebecca Clark (viola), Frederick Thurston (clarinet), Kathleen Long (piano), Trio in E Flat Major (Mozart). 2.46: Selected recordings. 5.0: Children's song service, conducted by Big Brother Bill. 6.15: Selected recordings. 6.45: Relay of evening service from Salvation Army Citadel, Dowling street. Preacher, Adjutant Mahaffle, conductor, Mr A. Millard. 8.0: Selected recordings. 8.30:-Com-plete recorded presentation, of "Rigoletto," an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. Alternative station, 4YO. 6.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Short popular recitals.

OVERSEA RECEPTION NOTES

(Supplied by the New Zealand DX Radio Association, Inc.)

Conditions on the broadcast band continue to imorove, and many of the oversea stations are being received at good strength. Some heard are:— 4BU, Bundaberg, 1470 kilocycles, 100 watts, from 9.30 to 12 p.m.; 2AD, Armidale, 1080 kilocycles, 9 to 12 p.m.; 2UW, Sydney, 1110 kilocycles. 1000 watts, 24 hours daily; MTCY, Hsinking, Manchukuo, 560 kilocycles, 100,000 watts, 1 to 2.30 a.m. The 20-metre band is providing interesting listening in the evenings, some of the best being NY2AE, United States, submarine bases. Coco Solo, Panama Canal sone, 450 watts;. TI3AV, Cartago, Costa Kica. 85 watts; XEIG, Mexico City, Mexico. These are on irregular transmissions. Competition results at the last meeting were:—Broadcast—Turnbull and Jones's trophy: February, W. O'Brien, CMKC, Cuba, 1; N, C. Manchester, WPAR, America, 2. Best verification, March: Senior: Australia,. W. O'Brien, 2GZ, Orange; VK, Mrs Salt, 3PA. Melbourne; America, W. O'Brien, CMBX, Cuba; East. W. R. Newton, MTBY, China; Europe, A. J. Golding, Bucharest. Rumania. Junior: Australia, J. Moore, 2WL, Woollongong; America, N. H. Buchanan, KWSC, Washington; East, J. Moore, XGOA, China; Europe, J. Moore, Poste Parisien, France. Short-wave —Amateurs:" F. C. Reynold?, HPI A, Panama Canal zone; commercial, N. H. Buchanan, COCD. Havana, Cuba. The branch log now stands at 705. ; Annual Meeting of Branch The Christchurch branch of the association held its annual meeting, when Mr J. C. Stapleton presided over 40 members, including representatives of South Dunedin and Rangiora branches. A monogram for inclusion on the association's blazers was approved. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Mr J. C. Stapleton, president; Mr M. Wilson, vice-presi-dent; Mr E. C. M. Philpott, secretarytreasurer; Messrs N. G. Manchester, E. W. Watson, G. Voice, W. R. Newton committee. Three remits were approved for the' annual meeting of the association to be held in Christchurch on April 11.

Passengers who fly the 200 miles between Paris and Croydon in two hours are faced with a 10-mile journey into London, which may take an hour Traffic congestion is the cause of the delay, and a remarkable proposal has been made for bringing the airport within eight minutes of London. It is suggested that the, Bennie railplane should be used. This interesting system of transport has been tried near Glasgow, where a short section of trackwas erected a£ove/the L.N.E.R. line a few years ago. The railplane is a streamlined vcar, built of duralumin and driven by propellers fore and aft. The car runs on an overhead track, from which it is suspended, the wheels of twin bogies on the car's roof running along a single rail. The entire weight is _carried by the bogies, although underneath the car there are guide wheels placed horizontally in pairs one on each side of a guide rail. The purpope of these is to prevent the car swaying, sideways when travelling at highspeed. Great steel supports astride the ordinary railway lines support the railplane track. Electric or petrol motors can be used for driving the propellers of the car, which, it is claimed, will travel at more than 100 piles an hour.