RADIO IN CANADA AND THE STATES

Evening Star, Issue 21240, 22 October 1932, Page 4

RADIO IN CANADA AND THE STATES

Of radio equipment, Mr A. R. Harris, who returned to Christchurch last week from Canada and the United States, in the course of an interview with a ‘ Press ’ representative, said that tho position was that quite a number of irresponsible and overnight manufacturers had conic on to the market with sots at extremely low jjrices, and to some extent the more reputable and prominent manufacturers had been forced to adopt a policy of producing and marketing a cheaper line to meet this competition. Radio as a utility was making groat strides, and, what with the low prices, the public response to its use had been phenomenal. “ With regard to broadcasting,” said Mr Harris, “ it is possible,- of course, to obtain both in tho United States and Canada programmes of the highest and tho lowest order. The leading stations, however, give a wonderful service. This service originates mostly from the two New York stations, tho network covering practically the whole of tho United States, as well as Canada. The loading broadcasting stations in Canada are now relaying these programmes regularly, and the matter provided is of a very diversified character and high entertainment value. “The more prominent hotels are all fitted up with radio in every room, the occupant having the choice of two programmes. At any time'of the day, and until midnight, one could turn on the set, and, whether in an hotel in Toronto or New York, hear a programme from a New York station at one time, and a race meeting in California at another time; or possibly an event of the Olympic Games at Los Angeles, or the landing of the airman, J. A. Mollison, after his Atlantic flight, which were the most outstanding happenings, so far as public interest was concerned when I was there.

“ Rebroadcasts of events in England and other distant countries are quite frequent with the Canadian and United States radio stations, the transmissions coming through so perfectly that it is hardly possible to believe that they originated from sources across the Atlantic.”

Mr Harris said that the service given by the American stations was largely dictated by the advertisers using those stations, .and that the sustaining programmes supplied by the stations themselves were put on at a time when advertising was not available. Thus the advertising matter occupied the more popular hours. In this respect New Zealand had a big advantage, in that so long as the service depended on the patronage of the listeners for its revenue, their interests must always come first.

In respect of the New Zealand stations, Mr Harris stated that, while there was not the same diversity available hero as in the programmes of other countries, ho considered tho service in Now Zealand, having regard to the conditions of the country, was equal to anything else in the world. Also, there was in New Zealand a definite time for certain types of entertainment and other matter; and this, he thought, was of greater utility to that section of he community which depended on the radio service for its news, entertainment, and instruction generally than the somewhat indefinite broadcasts in other countries.