The Radio Listener

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 217, 10 June 1936, Page 13

The Radio Listener

Coming Events. Wo seem to have entered a phase in which everything must be ultra-modern or very old. Those who are intrigued by the ultra-modern should make a point of confirming their convictions by tuning to IVA on Sunday, .lune 14, at 5.30 p.m. The symphonic musical programme that will greet them is called “Things to Come’’ (11. G. Wells) music by Arthur Bliss. Although this item is a recording, listeners should have scope to criticise the ultra-modern, but not the orchestra, which is the London Symphony. An hour later from 4YA listeners will have an opportunity to form their opinions on the Indian mezzo-contralto, Bina Addy. She will sing, among other items. “Shepherd’s Cradle Song.” On Monday, June 15. the “Twa Macs” are in action after the eight o'clock chimes. These two will give us “Pitten’ in the Cries” and “Tam Catches a tVeasel.” In contrast 2YA permits those listeners who cannot stand, or do not understand Scots talk, to listen to a pianoforte recital by Gilmour W. McConnell. L.R.S.M., A.T.C.L. “A Romp” (Bowen) is among the items to be played. There is to be an inter-varsity debate from 2YA on Thunsday evening, June 16. The subject of the debate w “That the Savage is Happier than Civilised Alan.” We hope that the similarity between our Prime Minister’s name and that in the subject of the debate will not be overdone. At any rate the debaters are Victoria College versus Canterbury College. Victoria takes up the affirmative. “The Egypt’s Gold” is to bo the subject of tnlfc in dramatised version on Wednesday evening from 2YA. It follows that always welcome talk by Dr. Scholefield on “World Affairs.” Lovers of dance music might perhaps note that for the next week or two they will be well provided for. On June 1G there is to be a relay from IYA of Norman Volkner and his Internationals. Station 2YA is to present a new release of dance music on June 19. A' day before that 3YA will, so to speak, pave the way by a talk on ballroom dancing. On Saturday. June 20, 3YA is to relay dance music by the Bailey-Marston Orchestra. Listeners who have dancing shoes should wear them, others could borrow running shoes or tune to one of the other numerous programmes. Oratorical Style.

Whatever the merits or demerits of converting radio stations into cogs in the political machine there is little doubt that members of the House will have to raise their standards of speaking. In the good oWI days it was only an occasional visitor, comparatively speaking, and the ever-patient press men, who were compelled to sit through good stuff badly spoken. Now it is the whole of

New Zealand, not to mention the eavesdropping that goes on outside this country. This important factor of microphone style was particularly noticeable in England the first time that the elections were broadcast. On that occasion public speakers of merit took the air, but some of them were far from satisfactory to the critical homeside public. Ramsay MacDonald, for example, made himself almost unintelligible by shouting. Mr. Baldwin was probably the. best speaker. He'spoke with an even voice, clear but not sleep-making, and his points were made the stronger by listeners being able to hear him. Lucid speaking, free from corrections, qualifications, and interruptions by interjectors are all desirable n the fireside public is to understand the Parliamentary spoken word. The decision of the Government to put speakers on the air should prove a gold mine tor elocutionists and experts in voice productions. Some say it is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good. Frank and Archie.

Many 2YA listeners were disappointed on Thursday evening. The Japanese houseboy did not die of his illness, being unfortunately cured by his nit-wit-ted employer. But listeners have two comforting thoughts. One, that the Grim Reaper cannot much longer be denied (Frank. Archie, Cynthia, Mr. Scudder and company must all be getting on in years now, senile decay becoming every week more and more painfully evident) : and two, that they tire, at their worst, not yet as bad as “Eb and Zeb,” who were heard again on Friday night.

The Time Signals. There appears to be considerable uncertainty about the meaning and the necessity for those noises which immediately precede the common broadcast announcement “The two minutes past — time signal has just passed.” Unless there are very special circumstances preventing it, the time signals are heard from the national stations three times daily—at 10.30 a.m. and at 3.30 and 7.30 p.m.. New Zealand standard time. They originate from the clock at the Dominion Observatory, Kelburn. The evening signal is one long impulse only, beginning at 7.30. The other two each begin with a long impulse, followed by “single’’ short ones for a minute, when the second long “buzz” is heard, double short impulses following until the final long one a minute later.

Apart from disturbing those listeners who look upon Sunday afternoon programmes purely as a sedative, the time signals are of great assistance to mariners checking their chronometers, to scientific bodies, watchmakers, and harbour boards.