BANNED FROM 4YA.

Evening Star, Issue 22685, 26 June 1937, Page 19

BANNED FROM 4YA.

TO THZ EDITOR. Sir, —In the ‘ Star of _ Wednesday appeared a letter by “ Listener,” in which a statement was made which almost disclosed the identity of the writer despite his nom de plume. The statement that “everyone knows how different a performance may sound over the air as compared with such performance in a hall or in the open air ’’ is, in my opinion, a combination of words set down for two express purposes : (1) To endeavour to belittle the opinions of such highly-qualified judges of music as Dr Galway, Mr Alfred Walmsley, and Mr Vernon. Griffiths; and (2) it is an admission that the station’s broadcasting equipment is not what it should be. In tbe course of my world tour I have had the pleasure of listening fo concerts in halls and parks by military bands, and also heard the same bands ‘broadcasting from different stations, and !• am of the opinion that the standard of placing and the musical tonation was, if anything, improved in the broadcast. The leading musical authorities are of the opinion that the music of the Otago Regimental Band is good. Will the 4YA officials admit that their broadcasting system is not up ‘to standard? . , On several occasions I have listened to the local military band both in concerts and over the air, and feel that I am voicing the opinion of other listeners when I say that the Otago Regimental Band’s performances compared favourably with military bands in other countries. In view of this it would appeqr that for some hard to understand reason these so-Called competent observers have musical ears which are not tuned in with the consensus of local, opinion. It would be interesting to know just who these observers are and what musical qualineations they possess. In the original article in the ‘ Star ’ no mention was made of “ local bias.’ Where did “ Listener ” get the information which led him to believe that local bias was the root of the banning of the band from the air?—l am, etc., No Bias. June 26. .. ■ [The opinion expressed by “ Listener ” was that the procedure followed by the Director of Broadcasting entirely removes from the case any possible charge of local bias. —Ld. h.b.J