OVER THE AIR

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22004, 30 January 1937, Page 8

OVER THE AIR

RADIO’S FUTURE IN NEW ZEALAND

|By LISTENER! The opening—one mig’t almost say the dedication—of the new 2YA transmitter last Monday evening was performed with picturesque solemnity. I liked specially that touch when the Prime Minister called on the national stations in turn, and the announcers, like faithful A.B.’s answering the bos’un, responded with “Aye, aye, Sir, or something like that. The whole affair was extremely well stage-man-aged, and fittingly so, for this was the great night for letting the radio mystery cat out of the bag. Listeneis .eic to be told what they had to expect in the future. I am only a humble listener; I am just recording my ie actions to the statements of the Minister for Broadcasting and the Ducctoi of Broadcasting. I had anticipated that this occasion would be used 101 letting the public into the confidence of the broadcasting authorities, and 1 must say that I was disappointed by much of what was said. I am icmindcd of the generous son who wrote to his mother: "Dear mum, 1 am sending you £ 10 —but not this year.” That is what Mr Savage and Professor Shelley did to the listeners of New Zealand on Monday evening. Great bounty is to be showered, but not for a long time. Nothing but praise need be given to the grand scheme lor the establishment of a conseryatorium lor music and the spoken arts in Wellington, and for the foundation of a national symphony orchestra This superb cultural centre would be able to do incalculable good, but I for one would have been better pleased it either Mr Savage or Professor Shelley had been a little more informative. Where is the money for the conservatorium coming from? Ar 6 the license fees of honest folk who want nothing more than simple “music, mirth and melody” to be used for the training of home-grown Carusos, Melbas, Krieslers and Cortots? . Probably it is time that New Zealand did do something of a national scale for its musicians and for its prospective Henry Irvings and Mario Tempests, but it is questionable whether this cultural philanthropy should be at the exclusive expense of people w’ho own radio sets. It may be that the Government intends to support the scheme, but if it does, why the coy reticence about its plans on Monday evening? An inevitable first thought is that such a charge is far too heavy to impose directly and solely upon the National Broadcasting Service. If this is what is intended, many listeners will roar loud enough to send mastodons scuttling for shelter. No Immediate Improvements Where I am disappointed, and where others must be disappointed, too, is that the broadcasting authorities have offered nothing that promises immediate improvement of programmes, it is pleasant enough to hear that we are going to have a broadcasting centre and conservatorium “unique in the world s institutions.” but on Professor Shelley s own testimony the building of this centre will probably take two years, and unless the Government is going io provide some of the money, a good slab of the license fees for the next year or so will be going into bricks and mortar. When the building is up two or three more years at least will have to pass before the institution unleashes its products for the pleasure of listeners. This long-term view of broadcasting is right enough, but the avci - age listener in these* days is but tepidly interested in what is going to happen five years hence. He is not going to submerge his present discontents because he is told that .Wil e Brighteyes, who now plays inuhc Bly” so beautifully, will be given the chance a decade hence to beef ou * a Beethoven sonata. No. Hie average listener wants to know how Profcssoi Shelley sftd his aides intend to improve programmes next week, oi too week after. There has to be some adroit harmonising of the short-term view and the longrterm view. Listening Group Scheme So much for that. I must confess that I can’t quite follow what the Minister for Broadcasting has in mind vyhen he thinks that the formation of listeners groups will help the broadcasting authorities. He appears to believe that the organisation of listening groups will enable the National Broadcasting Service to learn what listeneis want. Professor Shelley said that the Minister for Education has expressed active sympathy with this proposal for group listening and is, apparently, prepared to allow school buildings to be developed as radio group centres. My feeling is that the family is the mevitable radio unit, and I don’t think there is much chance of more than a few people being persuaded to leave their firesides on a winter evening to trundle off to school to listen to something that they could listen to quite well at home. From what Professor Shelley said, the schools of New Zealand are to be made a bewildering cross b e * tween a concert hall, a Workers Educational Association lecture room, and a jazz palace. “Group listening, saj d Professor Shelley, “is necessary if broadcasting is to reflect the spirit of the community. Broadcasting must become a stimulus to the activity of mind, heart, and body for the people of the Dominion, so that we may become a nation not only of good listeners, but of good doers and good friends.” Just how listening soberly to radio in a schoolroom is going to bring about these desirable mass reformations in imperfect human nature has me wondering. Radio is an invention which may be used for the entertainment or instruction of mankind. It is not a mystical device, or a new religion, , Perhaps I may have to eat my words in five years’ time —and I hope I m here to do it if necessary—but at present I declare before the world my belief that the group listening scheme will flop harder than an egg tossed from the Cathedral spire. It is with genuine sorrow in my heart that I have had to write as I have written about these things. Like everybody _ else, I have been waiting with glowing anticipation for the new broadcasting policy statement, and now that it has come, it seems to me that obvious needs have been sacrificed on the altar of enchanting visions.

3YA, CHRISTCHURCH (720 Kilocycles)

IYA. AUCKLAND (650 Kilocycles)

2YA, WELLINGTON (570 Kilocycles)

4YA, DUNEDIN (790 Kilocycles)

A Listener’s Complaint A correspondent signing himself “The Man in the Street” has written to mo suggesting that I should lay off Eb and Zeb for a while, and exercise my talents in pleading for improvement in the evening programmes. My correspondent had a good many unflattering things to say about a number of recent performers from 3YA. and although I cannot avree with him entirely in his more personal condemnations, I am compelled to pay respectful attention to his statement that his friends do not bother to listen at all because they are so depressed by the programmes. Of course. I must say that I would not be greatly impressed by the criticism of those who do not listen at all. However, there are valid causes for discontent, and in considering them I am taken back to the earlier point that the broadcasting authorities are out of touch with public sentiment when they think criticism may be silenced by the promise of a nice big conservatorium.

An Evening’s Analysis Let us go back no further than last Tuesday evening and give cursory scrutiny to the national programmes. IYA had nothing but gramophone records and a “world affairs” talk. IYX

PROGRAMMES AND COMMENT

BROADCASTING

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES

had mediocre recordings (and forgive me for mentioning It—both Eb and Zeb and the Japanese houseboy). 2YA had recordings and one good interlude —Miss Bessie Pollard, formerly of 'Christchurch,- playing a Bach concerto with an orchestra conducted by Mr Leon de Mauny. 2YC had tvo hours of bright entertainment. 3YA had three hours of records that would have been amusing enough for 20 minutes. 3YL had a good programme of recorded music: Arnold Bax’s “Sonata for two pianos,” Elgar’s “Sonata in E Minor,” and Haydn’s “Quartet in G Major.” Down at 4YA they had recordings (medium), a “world affairs” talk; Miss Jean McFarlane (an excellent contralto), and a concert by the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band (good for those who like it —but count me out). The records from 4YO were satisfactory.

Group listening? I wouldn’t have taken a wall-eyed cat I wanted to lose out to hear programmes offering so little. In the whole of New Zealand that night the only thing worth turning the switch for was a bit of recorded music—if you happened to be interested in it.

And just to show there’s sweetness as well as vinegar in my heart, I want to congratulate Mr Will Yates who arranged and produced “In Such Short Time,” the cavalcade of New Zealand broadcasting, and which was the highlight on the programme from the new 2YA station last Monday evening. The narrators. Professor Shelley, Mr Alan McElwain, and Mr Karl Atkinson, were first-rate, and the whole broadcast was admirably devised.

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0; Devotional service. 10.15; Selected recordings. 11.0: Time signals. 11.2: Selected recordings. 12 noon; - Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: Special week-end weather forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.30: Ball by aall commentary on fourth cricket test match, England v. Australia. 4.0: Time signals. 4.30; Sports results. 5.0: Children’s hour, conducted by Aunt Pat. G.O: Ball by ball commentary on fourth cricket test match. 0 30; Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 80’ Bali by ball commentary on fourth cricket test match. 8.30: 3YA Orchestra (conductor. Harold Beck). 8.42: Cara and Arnaldo in popular songs and duets. 8.52: 3YA Orchestra. 9.0: Resume of day s play in fourth test match. 9.10; Weather report and station notices. 9.15: 3YA Orchestra. 9.24: Cara and Arnaldo in popular songs and duets. 9.34: 3YA Orchestra. 9 38; Commentary on fourth cricket test match. 9.55: Recording: Rawicz and Landaucr (piano duct). 10.0; Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music. Alternative station, 3YL. 1200 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0; After-dinner music. 8.0; Symphonic programme. 10.0; “Comedy Time,” thirty minutes of humour and melody.

7,0 to 9.0 a.in.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Devotional service, conducted by the Rev. Stephen J. Campbell. 10.15; Selected recordings. 11.30: Running commentaries on Takapuna Jockey Club’s meeting, held at Kllerslio (2nd day). 12 noon: Lunch music. 1.0 p.m.: District week-end wcaiher forecast. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.15; Sports results. 3.30: Ball by ball description o£ play in the fourth cricket test, England v. Australia, at Adelaide. 40: Selected recordings. 4.30: Sports results. 5.0: Children’s hour, conducted by Cinderella. 0.0: Ball by ball description of plav in fourth cricket test, England v. Australia, at Adelaide. 6.30; Dinner music. 7.0; News and reports. 7.30: Talk. The Gardening Expert. 8.0; Ball by ball description of play in the fourth cricket test, England v. Australia, at Adelaide. 8.30: Concert programme. Gordon Fagan (tenon, with orchestral accompaniment. «.43: Recordings: Ethel Loginska (piano). 9.0: Commentary on play in the fourth cricket test, England v. Australia, at Adelaide. 9.10: Weather report and station notices. 9.15; The Orchestra, conducted by Harold Baxter. 9.23; Fred Baker (baritone/. 9.30: The Orchestra, "Ballroom Memories" (Joyce). 9.38; Description of play in (he fourth cricket test, England v. Australia, at Adelaide. 9.55: Fred Baker (baritone). 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Dance music, relayed from El Key Country Club. Alternative station, IYX, 880 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: "To-night at Eight.” a variety and vaudeville programme. 9.0: Special programme: "Wings Over Australia,” the story of the Bertram flight, dramatised by Gordon Ireland, the New Zealand playwright.

7 0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10.30: Devotional service. 11.0: Time signals. 12 noon: Lunch music. 2.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 30; Sports results. 3.30: Ball by ball description of play in the fourth cricket test match, England v. Australia, played at Adelaide. 4.0: Time signals. Sports results. 5.0; Children's session. 6.0: Ball by ball description of play in the fourth cricket test match. 6.30: Dinner session. 7.0: News and reports. 7.30: Time signal from the Dominion Observatory. 8.0: Ball by ball description of play in the fourth cricket test match. 8,30: A popular programme. Recording: Vienna Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Tibor Polgar. 8.36: A recital by Hinetnoa Rosieur (soprano). 8.50; Recordings: Marcel Palotti (organ). 8.53: Norman Long (entertainer at the piano). 8.56: Savoy Orpheans, “The Student Prince” selection (Romberg). 9.0: Resume of play in the fourth cricket test match, England v. Australia, played at Adelaide. 9.10: Weather report and station notices, 9.15: Dance, programme. 9.38: Commentary on play in the fourth cricket test match, England v. Australia. 9.55: Dance programme (continued). 10.0: Sports summary. 10.10: Continuation of dance programme. Alternative station, 2YC, 840 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Light musical programme. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Miscellaneous recital programme. 9.0; Variety and vaudeville programme. 10.0: Thirty minutes of mirth and light music.

SUNDAY

» 3YA, CHRISTCHURCH

7.0 to 9.0 a.m.: Breakfast session. 10.0: Selected recordings. 10.15; Devotional service. 12 noon: Lunch music. 12.45 p.m.: And at intervals during the day, running commentaries on the racing at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting. N.B.— During the cricket broadcast, the racing commentary will be broadcast by 4YO .2.0: Selected recordings. 3.30: Ball by ball description of play In the fourth cricket test match, England v. Australia, being played at Adelaide. 4.0: Weather reports. Selected recordings. 4.45; Sports results. 5.0: Children’s hour, conducted by Aunt Anita and Cousin Molly. 6.0: Ball by ball description of play in the cricket test match. 6.30: Dinner music. 7.0: News and reports. 8.0; Chimes. A community concert, presented by Senla Chostiakoft, celebrated Russian tenor; Vincent Ryan, popular Australia comedian. At the piano; Ossie Cheeseman. Assisted by leading Dunedin artists. (Relay from Town Hall Concert Chamber.) 10.0 (approx.): Sports summary. 10.15: Dance music. Alternative station, 4YO, 1140 kilocycles. 5.0 p.m.: Selected recordings. 7.0: After-dinner music. 8.0: Ball by ball description of play in the fourth cricket test match, being played at Adelaide: England v. Australia. 8.30: Variety and vaudeville programme. 9.0; Resume in the cricket test match. 9.10: Band programme, with dramatic and humorous interludes. 9.38: Commentary on the day’s play in the fourth cricket test match. 9.55: Comedy and light music. DAVENTRY, ENGLAND GSG, 16.86 metres; GSO, 19.76 metres; GSB, 31.55 metres. (New Zealand Summer Time.) 8.0 p.m.; Big Ben. "A Cumberland Notebook, A talk by Wilfrid Roberts, M.P. 8.15: Musical Interlude. 8.20: The Fourth Cricket Test Match: Australia v. England. An account of the second day’s play by Alan Kippax, from Adelaide, in collaboration with the Australian Broadcasting Commission). 8.40: The 8.8. C. Dance Orchestra, directed by Henry Hall. 9.10: “Children of the Stars”—2: In which the children (many now grown up; of the great music-hall and theatre stars take part. Presented by Ralph Coram. The cast Includes: Marie Lloyd, jun., Peggy Pounds, Max Kirby, Eddie Espinosa. Ralph Coram, Ena Grossmith. 9.40: The news and announcements. 10.0; Close down.

9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Relay of morning service from Oxford Terrace Baptist Church. Preacher: Rev. L. A. North. Organist: Mr G. M. Martin. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 3.0: Recording: Edwin Fischer (pianoforte), Sonata in A Major. K 331 (Mozart). 3.15: Selected recordings. 4.0: Time signals. 5.30: Children’s song service, conducted by Canon S'. Parr. 6.15: Selected recordings. 7.0: Relay of evening service from St. Mary’s Anglican Church. Preacher: Rev. A. K. Warren. Organist and choirmaster: Mr Alfred Worsley. 8.15: Selected recordings. 8.30: Recordings: Orchestra of the State Opera House, Berlin. 8.44: Heinrich Schlusnus (baritone). 8.56: Sir Thomas Beecham, conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5; Talk: Miss Margaret J. Steel, Warden of the Diocesan Training Centre for Women, Sydney, “The Real Once Upon a Time; History in Folk-Lore.” 9.20: Max Scherek (pianoforte recital). 9.35: Recordings: Tudor Davies (tenor). 9.43: London Philharmonic Orchestra. 9.51: Belle Renaut (contralto), 10.3: Recordings; London Symphony' Orchestra. Alternative station, 3YL. 6 p.m.: Musical programme. 8.30: Half an hour with Gwynn Williams and his Welsh Singers, Orchestra Raymonde, and Cyril Scott (pianist). 9.0: Presentation of Henry Purcell’s Opera. ‘‘Dido and Aeneas." IYA, AUCKLAND

9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Morning service, relayed from Mount Eden Baptist Church. Preacher: Rev. J. D. Jensen. Organist: Mr R. D. Wood. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0; Selected recordings. 3.30: Lionel Tertis (viola) and George Reeves (piano), present: Viola Sonata (Delius). 3.42; Selected recordings. 6.0: Children’s song service. 7.0; Evening service, relayed from the Salvation Army, Newton Hall. Preacher: Adjutant Mahaffle; Bandmaster; Mr D. Davies. 8.30: Recordings: Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leopold Stokowski. 8.46: Roger Errington (tenor). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: A Bill of Divorcement. A play in three acts, by Clemence Dane. Alternative station, IYX. 6 p.m.: Light musical programme. 8.30: Half an hour with three popular instrumentalists. 9.0; "Great Melodies.” A programme containing some of the world’s most famous and lovely melodies. 2YA, WELLINGTON 9.0 a.m.: Chimes. Selected recordings. 110: Relay of morning service from Vivian Street Baptist Church. Preacher: Rev. L. J. Boulton-Smith. Organist: Mr Charles Collins. Choirmaster: Mr H. E. Wilson. 1 p.m.: Dinner session. 2.0: London Philharmonic Orchestra (soloist, Arthur Schnabel), Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 27 (Beethoven), 4.0: Time signals. 6.0: Children’s song service, conducted by Uncle William, assisted by the children from St. Giles’s Presbyterian Sunday school. 7.0; Relay of evening service from St. Gerard’s Redemptorlst Church Preacher: Rev. Father K. Crowe, Choirmaster: Mr Frank J. Oakes. Organist: Mr Henry, Mount. 8.15 (approx.): Selected recordings. 8.30: A miscellaneous band programme. ' Recordings; The 8.8. C. Military Band, conducted by B. Walton O’Donnell. 8.38; Nelson Eddy (baritone). 8.44: The Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards. 8.52: Harry Dearth and Raymond Newell (vocal duet). 8.56: The Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards. 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: A recital by Miss M. Lander (soprano). 9.17: Recordings: Munn and Felton's Work’s Band, conducted by W. Halllwell. 9.23; Harry Mortimer, accompanied by the North Evlngton W.M. Club Band, conducted by C. A. Anderson, Leicester (cornet with band accompaniment). 9.29; Charles Kullman (tenor). 9.35: Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards. 9.47: Essie Ackland (contralto). 9.51: Cairns Citizens’ Band (31st Batt. A.M.F.

Band) (cornet solo by Warrant J. Crompton). 9.57: Massed Bands of Salvation Army International Staff, Publishing and Supplies, and Men’s Social Headquarters, conducted by Colonel G. Fuller. Alternative station, 2YC. 6 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: Miscellaneous operatic programme.

4YA, DUNEDIN 9.0 a.m.: Selected recordings. 11.0: Belay of morning church service from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. Preacher: Rev. H. J. Ryburn. Organist: Mr L. S. Adam. 1 p.m.: Dinner music. 2.0: Selected recordings. 2.30: The Halle Orchestra, Symphony No. 4“ in A Major ("Italian”) (Mendelssohn). 2.54: Selected recordings. 5.30; Children’s song service, conducted by Big Brother Bill. 6.15: Selected recordings. 6.30: Relay of evening church service from First Presbyterian Church. Preacher: Rev. W. Allen Stevely. M.A. Organist: Dr. V. E. Galway. 7.45: Selected recordings. 8.30: A classical programme. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Wilhelm. Furtwangler. 8.38: Meda. Paine (soprano). 8.49: Caspar Cassado (’cello). 9.0: Weather report and station notices. 9.5: Recording; The Royal Opera House Orchestra. Stockholm, conducted by Armas Jarnefeldt. 9.13: A recital by L. E. Dailey (tenor). 9.24: Recordings: The Boyd Neel String Orchestra. Introduction and Allegro for Sti'ings (Elgar). 9.40: Wilhelm Backhaus (piano). 9.48; The Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Serge Koussevitsky. Alternative station, 4YO. 6 p.m.: Selected recordings. 8.30: “Music About Music.” A brief recital featuring selections bearing musicar titles. 9.0: “A Garland from Music’s Garden.” A light programme of music and songs about flowers, trees and gardens. DAVENTRY, ENGLAND GSB, 16.86 metres; GSO, 19.76 metres; GSB, 31.55 metres. (New Zealand Summer Time.) 8.0: Big Ben. A commentary on a match In the fourth round of the Football Association Cup. 8.20; A studio concert by Australian artists. Molly de Gunst (soprano), Beatrice Ainsworth (pianoforte), Lauri Kennedy (violoncello). Beatrice Ainsworth; Pastorale; Capriccio (Scarlatti). Molly de Gunst: “The Word of God My Treasure Is”; "Come, Sweetest Death”; "Sighing, Weeping" (Bach). Lauri Kennedy: Adagio (Bach); German Dance (Mozax-t); Two Spanish Dances: (1) Andalusa (Granados); (2) Murciana (Nin). Molly de Gunst: “The Tryst” (Sibelius):

“At the Well’’ (Hageman). Beatrice Ainsworth; "The Maiden and the Nightingale" (Granados); Serenade (Richard Strauss, arr. Gieseking). 9.0: Weekly newsletter, sports summary and announcements. Greenwich time signal at 9.15. 9.25; A religious service (Congregational), from Warwick Road Congregational Church, Coventry. 10.15: Close down.

OVERSEA RECEPTION NOTES

(Supplied by the New Zealand DX Radio Association.) The following special DX programmes are scheduled:—CFlC, Prescott, 930 kilocycles, 100 watts, 7 to 10 p.m. to-morrow; CMHJ, Cienfuegos. Cuba, 1160 kilocycles, 175 watts, 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday; WCOP, Boston, 1120 kilocycles, 500 watts, 11 p.m. to midnight to-day.

The North American stations - can now be heard at good volume from midnight.

The acting-consul-general of the Czechoslovak Republic in Sydney has sent advice that the Prague shortwave station, “Radio Praha,” has daily news sessions in English on 49.05 metres, and twice a week on 25.26 metres.