ON THE AIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26114, 29 March 1946, Page 9

ON THE AIR

Sir,—Your correspondent, "A Satisfied Listener,” is guilty of several gross errors in his letter in your issue of Tuesday last. In the first place, lie chides “ Coda ” with destructive criticism, implying that there is nothing constructive in what " Coda has to say. As one of numerous instances of this, I would quote the commendation of “ Coda ” of “ The Lonesome Train ” fiom 4ZB in comparison with his criticism of “ Philip the King ” from 4YA the previous week. Or in the matter of.sports commentaries, he suggests the employment of full-time experts for such a job. In the second place, “ Satisfied Listener ” asserts he has “ seen only condemnation of the N.B.S. programmes.” I could quote innumerable instances where “ Coda ” has given praise where it is due—e.g,, to the “ Lonesome Train,’ and remember that he congratulated 4YA once on a well-arranged two hours of contemporary English music. Many more could I quote, if I thought the Daily Times had the space. In the third place, regaiding replacements for deleted items, I know very well that for the past month or so “ Coda ” has consistently suggested that 4YA replace its Saturday night hotch-potch with two hours of classical music. As for the “ suggested programme from 9 a.m. till 11 p.m.,” all I can say is that one does not have to be a playwright to be a critic. One is reminded of the man who complained to his wife one morning at breakfast that his egg was bad; she told him to go into the back yard and lay a better egg, to which he replied he was constitutionally incapable of doing so, but he could at least smell a bad one! Seriously, though, the N.B.S. employs a paid staff to arrange the programmes, and since it is commonly asserted that ” he who pays the piper calls the tune,” I claim that we. who pay the annual licence fee, should have some say in what we have to listen to, without letting ourselves be ruled with a rod of iron by the N.B.S. My last word is one of congratulation to " Coda ” and to the Daily Times for their new venture into the realm of free and unfettered criticism, which is one of the most healthy signs in a democratic community. Many, like myself, resent any attempt on the part of people like “ Satisfied Listener ” to make the N.B.S. appear sacrosanct.—l am, etc., March 28. Dissatisfied Listener.

Sir, —Although there is room for much improvement in the N.B.S. programmes, the portions of the programme criticised by “Anything But Satisfied ” show a marked lack of appreciation of comparatively good music. Anyone who fails to enjoy the " music while you work ” programme, to which I presume your correspondent refers, has a very poor conception of good music or perhaps is naturally “ crochety ” anyway. Per-* haps your correspondent has not as yet discovered the rather obvious fact that if the programme from one station is disliked by him there are many other stations to which he can switch his machine; Although the N.B.S. has much room for improvement, the remarks by your correspondent are less than helpful. —I am. etc., Dlja’s Son. March 28.