RADIO

Taranaki Daily News, 10 October 1930, Page 11

RADIO

GOVERNMENT RADIO PLANS. DIFFICULTIES IN PROSPECT. ' - ' (By “8.0. L. That radio in New Zealand will shortly be in a state of chaos is indicated by recent events. Un top of the recent unforeseen position relative to the copyright situation comes the bombshell announcement by the Minister that it is not the intention of tne Government to renew the license of the Radio Broad- , casting Company, which expiies on Janu ary 1, 1932. Although it may be a little premature to* criticise the tentative scheme as outlined by the Minister it may not be out of order to review the possibilities of the scneme. Despite the many resolutions passed by radio bodies throughout New Zealand some years ago urging the Government to take over the control of broadcasting, sober reasoning and our past experience of State enterprises militate against any listener viewing the change with equanimity. . Few, perhaps, realise the tremendous difficulties • encountered in running a broadcast service, and with an intimate knowledge of those difficulties the writer has no hesitation in ' saying that although the Radio Broadcasting Company has not pleased everyone all the time it has accomplished wonders during the time it has been supplying our radio entertainment, and with its past experience should have been capable of far mole 'than anyone else could possibly do in meeting our needs in the future. The fallacy of State enterprises 'has been amply demonstrated in the past, both in Australia and New Zealand, and ia broadcast service is certainly the last thing that should be attempted by a Government department. The scheme of 'extension .to the service and plant as outlined by the Hon. J. B. Donald" as something deserving of great applause iis nothing new but merely an outline of proposals submitted to the department by the Radio Broadcasting Company some time ago. The contention that the plants are not “up' to the knocker” and out of date is very erroneous. Certainly, the 500 watt plants are not crystal controlled, but as far as the quality of transmission .is concerned they leave nothing to be desired, except in localities where physical conditions introduce distortion and fading, a state of affairs beyond the control bf engineers, howeyer up to date ’their apparatus may be. Regarding the assertion that the department has technicians more suited to run the plants than the company, I think that the departmental engineers will find that radio, broadcasting is a particular field of- endeavour far removed from the maintenance and operation of radio telegraph apparatus or even their latest novelty, carrier current telephony. An ounce of practice is worth a lot .of theory when it comes. to arranging microphones to suit the acoustic properties of buildings and the. handling of the musical frequencies encountered in dealing with orchestras,, etc., is only a small instance. Another point, and a pressing one, is, who is-going to pay . for this ambitious scheme? Is the taxpayer to assist in this. departmental experiment? Radio listeners represent at the present time about 5 per cent, of the country’s population,. and if the . public is asked to contribute, during the economic crisis through which the country is passing at the present time, to the support of ’an ' unnecessarily complicated and costly broadcasting service the Government is seeking a lot of opposition. Luckily for New Zealand a general election will intervene between now and the carrying out of the suggestions. ■

The Minister • talks glibly of programme improvements but shows his: inability to cain-y them out 'by asking for suggestions. We as listeners would like to know what form these improvements are likely tb take. If the programmes are to be modelled •on those of the British Broadcasting Company we do not want them. How they propose to get the programme matter of a better class than we have at present when every day further restrictions'.are being placed on the broadcasting of copyrighted music by foreign combines is not stated. During the term of the Radio Broadcasting Company' contract every artist and musical combination of note has appeared before the microphone at the various stations, except in the case of visiting artists bound by contracts with theatrical concerns, etc. Therefore, with a further restriction on recorded programmes, how do the Minister and his departmental heads propose to perform this feat of wizardry ? ■ The whole situation is bound to have a serious effect on license renewals next year, as the public is not going to “buy a pig in a poke,” and in -the light of past experience will fight shy of this newest form of State 'enterprise.

ANALYSIS OF PROGRAMMES. Some interesting figures are contained in. an analysis .of the. programmes broadcast "by the'Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Limited, during the period August 1, 1929, to July 31, 1930, which has been supplied by the company. The analysis also includes details of the total numtier of hours of transmission from the four stations during the two preceding corresponding periods. The later summary shows that for the year ended July 31, 1930, there has been an increase of ’22 per cent, in the number of broadcasting, hours as compared with the previous year's service, or an increase of 46 per cent, over the year ended July 31, . 1928. This year's increase of 1671 hours of transmission over the preceding year is accounted for by the inauguration of the dinner session at the four stations and the bringing of 4YA’s broadcasting schedule into, line with the Other stations after the opening of the new.studios in October, 1929. The time allotted to 'the various classes of entertainment has been evenly distributed at the four stations, while

.the individual total hours of transmission at the stations are very close. Auckland, however, is shown to have been “on the air” for the greatest number of hours. The number of sports relays at station IYA is considerably in excess of that at any of the other three stations. Including the sub-divisions entertainment, afternoon sessions and dinner sessions in the - same category, the percentage of time devoted to entertainment by the service was 62.7. The following table shows the number of hours of transmission provided by the company during the past three years ending July 31, the number of hours for the respective sessions being also given:—

' In the following tables the number of sessions and the number of hours for each class of entertainment at the different stations are given. The order for the various classes is the same as in the first eomp'lation, the bottom lines of figures being the totals:—

Expressed in percentages the relationship between the number of sessi-ms and the number of hours devoted to the sessions is as follows: —

Totals 100.00 100.00 'Arrangements have been made by the B station IZB, Karangahape Road, to commence shortly daily morning sessions and evening sessions on Mondays and Wednesday. Permission, the station officials state, has been obtained from the Post and Telegraph Department for the new schedule. A new plant has' been installed and as soon as the tests, which are proving successful, are completed the station will begin its daily morning programmes. On Sunday evening next that popular combination the 2YB trio (Messrs. F. Syme, violin, L. Blanchett, ’cello, and H. Morey, piano) will be Heard. Their numbers will include Mendelssohn’s “Andante Con Moto Tranquillo” from Trio in D Major, also “Valse,” by ColeridgeTaylor, as well as a bracket of two lighter numbers-, “Once Upon a Time” by Lind, and Rubenstein’s “Melody in F.~” TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES NEW ZEALAND STATIONS.

IYA« Auckland.. Afternoon session.—3.o, selected studio items, including literary selection; 5.0, children’s session; 6.0, dinner session; overture, Basle Symphony Orchestra; instrumental, J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; Musical Art Quartet; violin, Yvonne Curti; 6.30, instrumental, J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; instrumental, J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; ’cello solo, W. H. Squire; instrumental, J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; 7.0, news, information, reports; 7.40, talk, Rev. Angus McDonald, “The Sac~red Ibis of the Egyptians.” Evening session.—8.0, chimes; instrumental, °The Studio Trio; contralto, Miss Doris Moore; flute sold, Mr. Ed\ward V. Johnson; baritone, Mr.' John Bree; The Studio Trio; 8.34, soprano, Madame Mary Towsey; piano, Mr. Cyril Towsey; contralto, Miss Doris Moore; evening forecast and announcements; 9.1, flute solos, Mr. Edward V. Johnson; vocal duet, Madame Mary Towsey and Mr. John Bree; soprano, Madame Mary Towsey; 9.24, gramophone lecturerecital, A Commentator; 10.4, God Save the King. 2YA Wellington. Afternoon session.—3.o, selected studio items; 3.30 and 4.30, sporting re- , suits to hand; 5.0, children’s session; ( 6.0, dinner music session; New Light , Symphony Orchestra; waltz,. Maiek , Weber’s Orchestra; intermezzo, New . ( Light Symphony Orchestra;. waltz, ] Marek Weber’s Orchestra; Wurlitzer ] organ solo, Reginald Foort; New Light ( Symphony Orchestra; Victor Salon Or- ] chestra, “Indian Love Call”; De Groot’s , Orchestra; Wurlitzer organ solos, Reg- ] inald Foort;. 7.0, news session, market reports and sports results.. Eveping session.—B.o, chimes. Note: Durin’cr the course of this programme there’will be a relay of a sound film feature from the Majestic. Theatre. c

Overture: 2YA Orchestrina; soprano, Mies Dorothy Newman; piano, Miss Mary Lennie; baritone, Mr. Ernest Short; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; elocution Mr. W. J. Mount joy junr.; ’cello, Lauri Kennedy; contralto, Miss Jessie Shmith; tenor, Mr. Chas. P. Edwards; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; weather report and announcements; soprano, Miss Dorothy Newman; trio, Fritz Kreisler, Hugo Kreisler arid Michael Raucheisen; baritone, Mr. Ernest’ Short; valse, 2YA Orchestrina; humorous elocution, Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, junr.; ’cello, Lauri Kennedy; contralto, Miss Jessie Shmith; trio, Fritz Kreisler, Hugo Kreisler and Michael Rauchelsen; tenor. Mr. Chas. P. Edwards; selection, 2YA Orchestrina; God Save the King.

0 X -X-L v/111 Is, uvlllAl Afternoon session.—3.o, gramophone recital; 4.25, sports results; 4.30, close down; 5.0, children’s hour; 6.0, dinner session; New Mayfair Orchestra; ’cello, Pablo Casals; Novelty Orchestra; Victoria Orchestra; Kiriloff’s Balalaika Orchestra; organ, Jesse Crawford; 6.30, Vienna philharmonic Orchestra; organ, Jesse Crawford; Novelty Orchestra, “Midnight Bells” (Heuberger); 6.45, Novelty Orchestra; Victoria Orchestra; ’cello, Pablo Casals; Novelty Orchestra; 7.0, news session. ! Evening session.—B.o, chimes; popular and dance programme; overture, New Mayfair Orchestra; bass, Mr. E. J. Johnson; accordion, Mrs. E. Cosgrove; quartet, Valencia Quartet; instrumental, Studio Octet; mezzo-soprano, Miss Lucy Fullwood; 8.31, instrumental, Studio Octet; soprano' and tenor, Valencia Duo; accordion, . Mrs. E. Cosgrove; tenor, Mr. T. G. Rogers; instrumental, Studio Octet; 9.0, weather report and station notices; quartet,. Va' lencia Quartet; violin, ’cello, harp, piano and organ, the Studio Players; contralto, Miss Mary Taylor; instrumental, Studio Octet; dance music dsitil 11 p.m.. 4YA Dunedin. Afternoon session.—3.0, selected gramophone items; 3.15, talk, Miss Buccleugh, “Fashions”; 4.25, sporting results; 4.30, close down; 5.0, children’s hour; 6.0, dinner music; selection, Court Symphony Orchestra; J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; Halle Orchestra; Plaza Theatre Orchestra; J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; 6,30, Regimental Band of H.M. Grenadier Guards; Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra; J. H. Squire’s Celeste Octet; Halle Orclies, tra; 6.45, Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra; Regimental Band* of H.M. Grenadier Guards; Herman Finck’s Orchestra; 7.0, news session. Evening session.—8.0, chimes; overture, National Symphony Orchestra; soprano, Miss A. Finnerty; chorus, mixed chorus; recital, Miss T. Northey; trio, 4YA Trio; 8.32, baritone, Mr. N. Gamble; piano, Mr. Max Scherek; contralto, Miss Helen Roy; trio, 4YA Trio; tenor,-Mr. J. B. Hamilton; 9.1, weather report; Royal Opera Orchestra; soprano, Miss A. Finnerty; organ, Herbert Walton; recital, Miss T. Northey; baritone, Mr. N. Gamble; 9.29, trio, 4YA Trio; contralto, Miss Helen Roy; ’cello, Mr. P. J. Palmer; tenor, Mr. J. B Hamilton; New York Symphony Orchestra; 10.3, God Save the King.

1'938. 1'929. 1930. Entertainment .. 2,477.42 2,789.12 3,026.34 JVews, etc . 53'7.26 , 673.38 1,48.55 Children’s session 829.14 1,064.41 1,146.43 Afternoon session 1,400.44 1,678.11 1,744.09 Church services , 316.10 355.10 342.46 Sports relays ... 534.00 569 08 684.4) Dinner. session . fc-*. 5'1.01 943.00 Miscellaneous .. 131.(54 293.48 308.20 —* • ■ ■ ' —- . Totals ..... 6,277.19 7,474.49 9,145.08

AUCKLAND. .WELLINGTON. Sessions. Hours. Sessions. Hours. 316 751.46 317 758.05 256 242.03 259 235.29 312 * 290.46 312 283.50 268 430.20 272 478.42 55 92.49 59 87.07 82 253.42 47 ■ 130.29 236 • 236.00 . 259 259.00 32 64.26 35 88.13 1—— w - .— . ar —- • — — 1,557 2,361.52 1,560 2,320.55 CHRISTCHURCH. DUNEDIN. Sessions. Hours. Sessions. Hours. 321 781.58 314 734.45 313 254.21 298 217.02 314 286.34 308 285.33 266 413.49 272 • 421.18 ‘ 59 89.26 52 73.24 55 188.05 51 112.25 244 244.00 204 ' 204.00 43 ' 81.44 47 73.57 . —— . ...... —■ . 1,615 2,339.57 1,546 2,122.24

Sessions. Per cent. Hours. Pei 1 cent. Entertainment .... 20.2 33.0 News, etc .... 18.0 10.4 Children's .... .... 18.5 4 12.5 Afternoon ,... ..... 17.2 ' 19.4 Church services 3.6 3.7 Sports relays .. .... 3.7 7.4 Dinner .... 14.0* 10.3 Miscellaneous ...- 4.8' 3.3