BROADCASTING SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21113, 22 February 1932, Page 13

BROADCASTING SERVICE.

EXTENDED SUNDAY HOURS. MUSICAL SOCIETIES' SUBSIDIES. The New Zcalanrl Broadcasting Board lias' authorised a slight increase in (he transmitting hours of the four YA stations on Sunday afternoons and the stations are now on the air at 2 p.m. instead of 3 j).m. Recorded programmes are presented during the additional hour. The board is also continuing the Radio Broadcasting Company's practice of granting annual subsidies tp the YA Musical, Dramatic and Sports Advisory Committees for allocation to various organisations which contribute to the programmes. Four Auckland musical societies were assisted in this manner last year. The committees will submit their recommendations from time to time as to the distribution of the funds. The allocation of the Auckland grant will probably be discussed at the March meeting of the 11* A committee. Relays by IZH, Hamilton. The Tuesday evening programmes from IYA are now being relayed by the Hamilton B station, IZH, as was permitted by the Radio Company in the case of the " international" programmes. Programmes from 2YA, Wellington, are also being again relayed by the Palmerston North station, 2ZF, which is conducted by the Manawatu Radio Society. These steps show that the board is not unsympathetic toward B stations, but is willing to co-operate with provincial stations wherever possible. It is understood the relay lines are being provided by the Post and Telegraph Department, which is financing the board until the completion of the arbitration proceedings in connection with the assuming of the Radio Company's assets. No announcement has been made by the board with regard to its attitudo toward the New Plymouth station, 2YB. This station, which caters for listeners in Taranaki, was erected by the company on the understanding that the North Taranaki Radio Society woulrl be responsible for its maintenance. In one sense 2YB does not come under the same category as other B stations. Programmes at IYA. Under the board's system of decentralisation IYA is now working independently of the other three YA stations, and the' former scheme of co-ordination of programmes is not being observed to the same extent. Tho majority of listeners prefer to tune in to their own local station, and tho change ill the system permits of greater scope in programme construction. Under the old system .the programmes drafted in Auckland for IYA had to fit in with those at the other centres, but now the local programmes ■are submitted to head office merely for general approval, and for the checking up of copyright matters and other technical details. Attractions from IYA next month include the first of a series of lectures on " Flags of the Nations" by Mr. _ F. Leonard, of the International Committee of the Auckland Rotary Club, on March 1; a performance by, the Broadcasting Choir and the Northern String Quartet on March 3; the first of a series of talks on " The Foreign Legion" by an exLegionnaire, Mr. J. C. Brougham, on March 9; and a programme commemorative of the bicentenary of the birth of Haydn, on March 31, , when excerpts from " The Creation" and " The Clock Symphony" will be presented by 'cello concerto and string quartets. Relayed descriptions will' be carried out of the Auckland amateur athletic sports on March 5 and the New Zealand amateur sports on March 11 and 12. Dominion-wide Coverage. An announcement has been made by Mr. H. D. Vickerv, chairman of the board, that Mr. A. Gibbs, chief telegraph engineer of the Post and Telegraph Department, and Dr. M. A. F. of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department, were the experts chosen by the board to investigate the question of coverage and matters relating thereto. Mr. Vickery said that this commission would investigate and report upon the best available means for providing the most satisfactory broadcasting coverage for New Zealand, having due regard to all such factors as (1) distribution of population, (2) topographical features, (3) desirability of establishing relay stations and the. means of connecting them with distributing centres, (1) the practicability of having one or more national stations giving non-fading reception all over the Dominion, (5) the power of stations with a view to ensuring adequate signal-to-noiso ratio adequacy of existing stations in relation to power, modern features of design and quality of broadcast transmission. The commission will shortly visit various parts of Nqw Zealand where reception is unsatisfactory and investigate the conditions. Societies and persons desiring to make representations to the commission should notify the board as early as possible. Protests at the delay in the setting up of the Broadcasting Advisory Council and at the discontinuance of " international" programmes have been made by the executive of tho North Taranaki Radio Society. Tn regard to the programmes, the acting-general manager of the board, Mr. E. C. Hands, is to be requested to make these series again available to the society.