VOICE OE THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1935, Page 7

VOICE OE THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS BROADCASTING PROGRAMMES. CRITICISM OF LISTENERS. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l would like to voice the criticism Of a number of my friends concerning the New Zealand broadcast programmes. There are many of us in this district who have been radio enthusiasts fob years, but the programmes have become so unsuitable that we think it Scarcely worth . while renewing our licenses.

Our chief objection is to the large amount of classical music. Classical music is all very well in its place among the “highbrows,” but they are few in number compared with those who like a more popular variety. What we require is something stimulative to the tired working man who has been toiling all day and who needs . the pleasant uplift that appropriate light music can give. Why could not the broadcasting station give an hour or two of this and then go on to the classical after the workers have gone to bed? Workmen have to go to bed early so as to rise early, but the classical enthusiast is usually a late riser and a late bed-goer. The hour of starting the evening session is far too late. Why not commence at 7 o’clock and stop at 9 o’clock and then go on to classics? There is very good reason for a complete rearrangement of programmes. First of all the children’s session is not satisfactory. It is principally for one class of infants, and is very “babyish." It leaves out the older classes of children who should be catered for with something more - educative and interesting. The dinner session is all right if it ' were a little more varied and not so much of the one style of music. The news session is perfect boredom, and occupies the best entertaining hour, which is wasted. This •is when the popular programme for the multitude should begin as it is just the time when they have had their tea and need recreational entertainment.

Another important reform that would give great satisfaction would be to alter the period of broadcasting of certain subjects. At present one can get nothing but children’s hour between 5 and 6, dinner music from 6 to 7, news, shipping and weather from 7 to 8, and so on. What I should do would be to make 2YA broadcast .for the children from 4.30 to: 5.30- IYA would broadcast the juvenile programme from -5 to 6,3 YA from 5.30 to 6.30 and so on, and this would give an overlapping alternative that is' not' available to-day. There is no reason why one station should not be sufficient to broadcast all 'the news and weather reports etc. and the others would be free to go on with other varieties of programmes. There is too much uniformity and monotony about the present system of broadcasting. Even the announcing lacks originality, and a great number of listeners are heartily sick Of it.

No .doubt the broadcasting management cannot please everyone, and it is probably faced with many technical difficulties, but certainly there is a pressing need for more Variety in the method of presenting programmes, and it would greatly popularise radio if the desires of the vast number of common listeners were taken into account. Probably we have not been articulate in the past as to our requirements, and our silence has been taken as consent. A final complaint we have is that some of the best overseas stations have been blanketed out, and we cannot even switch over to these when we are disgusted with the local fare. Will the authorities help us please?—l am, etc., i ANNOYED LISTENER. I Eltham, April 25.

THE STOCK EMBARGO. (To the Editor.) Sir,—lt must be cheering to the stock breeders of New Zealand to read that at long last the Government is to lift the embargo which has for so many years prevented the direct importation from the United Kingdom of cattle, sheep and pigs. The embargo was placed owing to the fear of introducing foot and mouths disease. Some years ago a special quarantine station was completed in the Port of London under the supervision of the British Government enabling all animals parsing through it to be so treated -that it was impossible for any of them to carry away the germs of foot and mouth disease. As a consequence of this all the countries of the. world which had embargoes lifted them, with the sole exception of New Zealand. Having proved to all the world that stock passing through the quarantine station are immune to this or any other disease, Britain, always proud of its stud stock; is unable to understand the mentality of this Dominion, and resents our attitude. ;Our late Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, who was Minister of Agriculture at Home and has a very intimate knowledge of the London quarantine station and every detail of foot and mouth disease, as well as the entire New Zealand Government veterinary officers, are of the opinion that the disease cannot be brought to New Zealand by animals which pass through the London quarantine station. Studmasters throughout the Dominion, who are the real judges as to the needs for fresh blood to maintain and improve the quality of our studs, are unanimous in demanding the lifting of the embargo. It is well known that to maintain a high standard of any breed we have continually to go back to the original source for fresh blood. To-day every breed of pig and cattle is in desperate need of fresh blood in the form of specially selected animals. While we are adopting a policy of almost total isolation all other countries are racing ahead of us, making continuous importations of the finest animals that Britain can sell. The Argentine carefully watches England’s demands for baby beef, and imports from Britain at long prices the types of cattle suitable for the trade, leaving us practically unable to supply even small shipments. Similarly our dairy breeds, dairy Shorthorns, Red Polis, Friesians, Ayrshires and Jerseys are in urgent need of importations. It certainly hurts Jersey breeders to realise ti-.it their only chance of importations is by the very costly and slow process of shipment through Canada, while our neighbour Australia is able to import the cream of Jersey Island cattle direct through the London quarantine station.—l am, etc., E. GRIFFITHS. New Plymouth, April 24. ANSWERS to correspondents. “Subscriber.”—You have not forwarded your name and address.