ENTERTAINMENT FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18201, 28 February 1929, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENT FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS.

To the Editor of the “Timaru Herald.” Sir, —There has recently been an attempt in this town to raise money for the purchase of a radio-receiver for the public hospital. This is, of course, a very worthy cause, and one which deserves the public support, but 1 can suggest a better way of investing the money thus raised. Radio in New Zealand is much behind that in England, yet I read in an English paper that radio in hospitals has not proved a success. Static and distortion (caused by high amplification), can be anything but soothing to a patient’s ears. Gramophones are, of course, out of the question, for in many of the wards there are patients who are not in a fit condition to listen to music of any kind. The problem can be solved by the combination of the gramophone and the radio amplifier. The pure music received from the gramophone can be amplified to any desired strength and by means of a relay, any number of telephones could be worked. The initial cost of such an apparatus would be less than the radio receiver, no aerial or earth would be required and battery upkeep would be small. I trust that the people in charge will note this matter, and invest in something that will not be out of date in six months. —I am. etc. EXPERIENCED.