ON THE AIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26227, 10 August 1946, Page 3

ON THE AIR

BROADCASTING REVIEW By Coda. So intricate and confusing are the regulations dealing with the licensing of a wireless set that recent inquiries from T . three city post offices brought three' different answers. This little comedy of errors is rather disturbing, as listeners would lay themselves open to a charge and fine if they followed any of this advice given in good faith by postal officials. On consulting the relevant Act and its various regulations, these main points may serve as a guide when installing a netT set: — No licence is transferable from person to person, as it does not actually cover the wireless set itself, but only its “operator.” When installing a set, its “ operator ” must therefore obtain a licence under his or her name. * I use the term “ operator )’ as the set need not actually be owhed by the listener using it, but may have been borrowed from a friend. In every case the person „ actually in possession of the set at tlje time must have a licence in his own name. The exception to this rule concerns sets installed by a dealer for a trial. In this case, the dealer’s general licence allows the prospective buyer to use the set for seven days, and no longer. The position becomes more complicated in boarding houses, flats, or even, in large families. The owner of a boarding house or hotel may operate a wireless in the lounge, but any individual guest, if in possession of a private set, must obtain a. separate licence. The same holds good for flats or students’ rooms. A householder may, on the other hand, have as many radios around the place as he can afford, yet only needs one licence for the lot unless any one of the radios is used by a sub-tenant or even a member of the family who has married and lives in his house. Any uncertainties regarding such delicate interpretations of the law should be referred to the Wireless Branch at the Chief Post Office, or, preferably, to a lawyer, as that might be less expensive in saving money for yet another licence. When one sells or dismantles a wireless, the Post Office must be notified. Also, a change of address must be endorsed on the licence within seven days. If a licence is, however, unexpired when the set is sold or dismantled, the previous “ operator ” may claim a refund from the Post Office for the unexpired portion of the licence. As the public accounts feature annually a large sum for such refunds, it appears that they are always granted. When a new set is bought, and the licence for the old one has not expired, the new radio will be covered for the full period of the original licence, which gives the licence-holder the right to operate a receiving set and is not concerned with the set itself.

After all these ins-and-outs, a final word about wireless-inspectors. No wireless inspector may enter your home—even if it is only a one-roomed flat —without your express permission or a search-warrant. No landlord can give this permission, and it must be obtained from the tenant or subtenant personally. If an inspector or anyone associated with him attempts to gain entry, or has gained entry during the 4 occupier’s absence, call the police, as a criminal act has been committed. When an inspector has been given permission to enter, he still may not inspect your radio without further permission. Again, do not be bluffed. If a wireless is damaged during inspection, redress should be sought from the Post Office, or the police should be notified. Any complaints about rudeness or officiousness on the part of inspectors should be sent to the chief postmaster.

. a timid and tremulous sound.”

Two local singers, Joyce Ashton and Barbara Paterson, have shown good taste and initiative in breaking away from the musty round of “ old favourites” in their recitals to-night over 4YA at 7.44 and 8.41. One can only hope that their example will be ■followed by more artiets who broadcast from our local stations. With a few exceptions, to which I have drawn attention during past months, the songs to be heard from 4YA’s studio are either beyond the singer’s range, or have nothing to recommend them, apart from a - sickly sentimentality which most listeners prefer to do without Of further interest to-night from 4YA is Liszt’s First Hungarian Rhapsody, at 8.50.

4YO’s programme between 9-10.30 features an hour’s. music by Dvorak, followed at 10 by Bach’s Preludes and Fugues, nos. 33-36. 4YZ’s half-hour of chamber music at 9.25 is particularly pleasing to-night with its offering of two Mozart violin sonatas. A programme by the Queen’s Hall Light Orchestra between 7.53-8.23 from 4YA might be worthwhile.

“What passion cannot music raise and quell . . .”

The* choice for a Sunday morning still continues to be 3YA’s Bach programme at 10, followed at 11 by 4ZD’s Classical Hour, featuring Mozart’s D major Symphony. Contemporary French compositions can be heard in the afternoon from 4YA between 2.30 and 3, and then from 3-3.34 3YA continues with a similar programme. A 8.8. C. play at 4 from 4YA looks quite enticing. At 8.6 in the evening Aileen Young will sing three very lovely and practically unknown songs from 4YA’s studio, to be followed at 8.15 by a Bach organ recital presented by Professor Galway. Opera-lovers may be able to receive 2YA satisfactorily enough for a performance of Verdi’s “ Rigoletto.” The opera is more than' redeemed by the glorious music which never fails to appeal. A play to be heard at 9.30 "from 4YA is advertised as “a domestic comedy in which a good wife is reformed.” As she appears to be good before being reformed, the possibilities for her subsequent change should be quite intriguing. A musical gem from 4YZ at 8 p.m., Mozart’s “Little Night-music.” will appeal to every listener. FOR THE WEEK Monday—7.ls, 4YA: Farming Talk by Mr Norman Macdonald. 7.30, 4YA: Bach’s Fifth Brandenburg Concerto. 8-9, 4YA: Concert by Dunedin Training College Choral Society. 9.30-10.5, 3YA: Haydn’s F minor Andante and Variations, followed by Beethoven’s G major Quartet, Op. 18, No. 2. Tuesday—7.ls-7.48. 4YA: Talk by W. G. McClymont, M.A., on the “ Lakeland and Fiordland,’’ followed appropriately by light Norwegian music. 8-10, 4YO: An attractive programme of chamber music, with Haydn’s Quartet in F major, Op. 77, No. 2, at 9.34. 8-8.15, 4YA: The Trial Scene from “ The Merchant of Venice.” 10.30. 2YA An Inspector Cobb thriller. Wednesday—7.ls, 4YA: Book Talk by Dr K. J. Sheen. 8-9.30, 4YO: Mozart's “ Paris ’’ Symphony and Serenade for 13 Wind Instruments, Beethoven’s " Lenore ’’ Overture No. 2, and SaintSaen’s Piano Concerto in G minor. 9.25. 3YA: Beethoven’s "Pastoral” Symphony. 8.23, 2YA: Aldous Huxley’s " The Gioconda Smile,” adapted by the 8.8. C. as a broadcast play Thursday—7.3o-9, 2YA: Elizabethan madrigals, Schubert’s E flat major Quartet, and songs by Richard Strauss, Wolf, and Brahms. 7.30-9, 4YA: North Otago Schools Music Festival. 9.27. 4YA: Brahm’s First Symphony. Friday—7.ls-10.25. 3YA: Well-thought-out light programme of orchestral music, songs and talks. 8-9. 2YA: The great British pianist, Solomon, in a concert of Brahms and Beethoven. 8.1, 4YA: “ Barlasch Says Good-bye.” 9.15, 4YA: A talk by Professor T. D. Adams on Euripides and the Drama, introduced by Beethoven’s “ Cariolan ” Overture Charivaria The irrational practice of giving the names of works to be heara over the air in foreign languages reaches the peak of absurdity when one part of a title is advertised in English and the other part in French. The N.B.S. might well make it a rule to give all titles in English to save us from such a monstrosity as: “Two Ballads de Francois Villon,” which appears in to-night’s programme from IYX. It was quite characteristic of the approach of the Dunedin and Christchurch stations to listeners when 3YL could advertise Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto during the week as popular music, whereas the same work is regarded by our own stations as something most frightfully "highbrow.”