RADIO BROADCASTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21647, 18 May 1932, Page 7

RADIO BROADCASTING

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —With reference to the. announcement on Friday last by Mr F. Barnett that, in view of the number of anonymous telephone calls he had received during the previous few days to the effect that the programmes of station 4ZO were of low standard, lie had to request complainants to forward their objections in writing, I am tempted to say that, whoever was responsible for them, the complaints by the listeners were quite uncalled for. I feel that in doing so I am expressing not only my own opinion, but also that of the majority of radio listeners.

There is always a difference of opinion in all classes on all subjects, and there are always a certain few who, because something does not probably agree with their tastes, find satisfaction in using the telephone to express their disapproval, without any explanation of the reason for it and at the same time are careful not to disclose their identity. The truth of the old saying, “ The more one does the less it seems to be appreciated,” is here ably demonstrated. During the past two years it has been my lot to visit every part of New Zealand from Cape Maria van Diemen to Bluff and Riverton. I have always been keenly interested in radio broadcasting, not only listening in, but also studying the different transmissions, and am confident that the Dunedin B class stations and programmes are on a par with, if not in some cases better than, those in other parts of New Zealand. Moreover, Dunedin actually enjoys eight hours’ more radio entertainment per week than Auckland, 10 hours more than Wellington, and 11 hours more than Christchurch. This is due very largely to the enthusiasm of the proprietors of the B class stations. One has only to listen in at odd times during the week to hear such requests as “We would appreciate reports as to transmission, etc., from listeners; our telephone number is so and so,” and as late as 11.30 p.m., and sometimes midnight, after all others have closed down, one will hear, “ This is station 4ZL testing.” Then, again, from 7.30 a.m. onwards any morning, except Sundays, we can , listen in continuously until 10.30 p.m. and often later. I am sure we should pay tribute to these stations for the splendid entertainment they extend us, rather than offer discouragement to them. I wonder if the amount of preparation necessary before each transmission ever occurs to the average layman. We are all aware, I think, that it constitutes more than going to the shelves of some gramophone parlour and selecting, say, two dozen records at random. In the first place, selection of suitable records is no easy task, nor is it accomplished in a few minutes, and this is apart altogether from the trouble of arranging the programme, the expense, and probably again the time spent in overhauling and testing transmitting ap paratns. I am in no way interested in any radio broadcasting station. I would take this opportunity of thanking all the stations for the splendid programmes supplied by them, and would assure them that if the future entertainments are equal to those of the past they will be more than greatly appreciated.—l am, etc., J. C. White, Jun. Caversham, May 16.