RADIO

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 10

RADIO

ON THE BROADCAST BAND

The Japanese official news bulletins dealing with the situation in China and the East are now broadcast in Japanese, English, French, German, Spanish and Chinese.

Mr H. de Rose, formerly of Dunedin, has been appointed musical director for the Commercial Broadcasting Service. It will be Interesting to see what effect the appointment will have on the standard of music in the programmes.

Although it was announced some time ago that no Royal message would be broadcast, the King will speak from Sandringham on Christmas Day. This talk by King George V. was always popular, and did more to cement the fabric of Empire than a dozen of the round-the-world radio stunts.

The German who invented the saxophone, regarded it as a “serious” instrument, and had no thought of negro bands or of saxophunists. Australians are to hear the sax played as Sax intended, as the A.B.C. is importing Sigmund Rascher, professor at the Royal Danish Conservatorium, who is credited with being an amazing exponent of its possibilities in the realm of musical literature.

The revenue of the National Broadcasting Service for 15 months ended 31st March was £314,000, and of this only £90,000 was expended on programmes. Now that the new stations have been paid for, there is no need for retention of the license fee at 25/-. Apparently 15/- would be ample, unless free programmes are to be added to the privileges enjoyed. Rumours are current, though they may lack foundation, that the intention to publish an official journal has been abandoned.

A world radio convention is to be held in Sydney next year as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations. It is planned to make recordings of the official speeches, and later to have translations made for distribution to broadcasting stations in all countries. An ultimate audience of 250 million listeners is envisaged, so it is due that Commonwealth politicians will find something worth while to say.

It is plain that the next general election in New Zealand will be conducted on Australian lines, with most electioneering done over the air. Fears are being expressed that one party will be given preference by the commercial stations, and that the Government may take an unfair advantage in the use of the YA service. It is unlikely that the Prime Minister will commit any such indiscretion as it would inevitably react unfavourably on the Government Itself. In Australia. the National stations restrict election addresses to a fixed number by party leaders, and the use of commercial stations is a matter of £.s.d.

The highest price paid by the Government for a “B” station was £2500 for IZM Manurewa, but the property included a house and piece of land. 2ZW Wellington and IZW Auckland, taken over during the reign of the National Government, cost £2300 and £2OOO respectively, but this Included in each case an ex gratia payment of £5OO for “services rendered” during the term of the Broadcasting Company. The Friendly Road station is listed at £2lOO, a long way below the £5OOO asked for it, yet still a good deal in excess of the assessment by Government valuers. Unless there was something in addition to the transmitter 3ZR Greymouth appears to have done well at £2350. The cheapest station was 4ZF Dunedin at £132/4/-, while IZS Auckland cost only £l4l and 4ZW Dunedin £l9l/5/-.

Two radio items were dealt with on Answers to Questions day in the House last week. In reply to a query whether the Opposition would be given facilities to counter the Government's “news" session, it was stated that it was not proposed to alter the present arrangement. Few people will complain at that. It would have been ludicrous to have one party next day chasing up the other's propaganda. In any case it appears that there are few listeners to this session, and at that hour it may be true that 90 per cent, of receivers are tuned in to B and commercial stations. The other matter concerned a “talk” by a school teacher. It was announced that no restriction is to be placed on public servants in broadcasting their personal opinions on controversial questions. This seems to open the door to anything that is not detrimental to the New Zealand Government. There is a diverting side to this affair. Not so very long ago a Christchurch Labour member (then in Opposition), introduced a spot of electioneering into a speech at a public function, and a Junior was sacked because he did not "black out” the speaker. At that time the YA staffs were National in every way. Since the change of Government some of them have outbrayed the Vicar of Bray.

The report on the Broadcasting Service presented to the House last week was nearly nine months out of date, as it embraced operations only up to March 31. The activities of the commercial branch up to that date were concerned almost wholly with IZB. The advertising revenue of the four stations now averages about £BOOO per month.

A big fight is threatened in U.S.A, between radio stations and musicians. The Federation of Musicians is demanding a cessation of the indiscriminate use of "transcriptions” (as the Yanks style recordings), by broadcasting stations. The broadcasting people have refused to negotiate, and the musicians’ federation is considering a general strike of orchestras and artists until their demands are satisfied. If the use fo records were to be banned in the States, there might be ricochet effects in this country.

2SM Sydney a few months ago discontinued its racing service, but it has re-entered the field on an extended scale, Melbourne being covered as well as Sydney. Anticipations are broadcast over-night, and track work and jockeys' engagements in the morning. Starters, riders, barrier positions, running descriptions and starting prices are broadcast from the courses, with rebroadcasts at night. Qreyhound racing and wrestling are again being covered, and the only conclusion seems to be that the Church authorities suffered a loss of advertising revenue when sporting features were dropped. “Their English appearances are very spasmodic, and arranged in the spur of the moment when they have a slack week-end in Paris or Brussels . . . When they do fly to London for the week-end they make two appearances with the 8.8. C. and then fly back again.” Thus the semi-official organ in regard to the Comedy Harmonists. It Is very doubtful if the party now in the north ever performed for the

8.8. C. The leader, Harry Frohmermann, is the same, but the others are new, and were not members of the original combination. The star of that party was Blbert, a basso, and the pianist was Blootz. The tourists are good enough to stand on the! rown merits. The only instrument used in their "orchestral” numbers is a piano, the others being vocally imitated after the manner of the famous negro brothers Mills.

The Australian Broadcasting Commission has engaged many world celebrities to tour the Commonwealth next year. Dino Borgioti, a lyric tenor who sang in Australia years ago with Melba and Dal Monte companies, is to arrive in January, and will be starred in a series of operas, including favourites as old as “Martha,” “Marltana," and "Bohemian Giri” down to "Madam Pompadour” and “Land of Smiles". Lauri Kennedy, first 'cellist at a fourfigure salary to the 8.8. C., will arrive later in January. In April there is due Alex Kipnis, Russian bass-baritone, and in June, Sigrid Rascher, Copenhagen saxophonist. Richard Tauber and his new film-star wife are booked for August. Among the conductors engaged are George Szell, from Vienna, and Dr Malcolm Sargent. The Commission promises special attractions in connection wtih Sydney's 150th anniversary celebrations in February and March. BIBS FROM BATH TOWELS Young mothers may be interested in the following idea for economical and easily-washed bibs for youngsters. When bath towels begin to wear thin in the centre, as they usually do after a time, use the ends to cut bibs for the little tots. These are very attractive when bound with coloured bias tape, and easily adjusted with ties attached (..’ the same. One mother finds such bibs a great saving of the children’s clothes, and says they are especially fine, because of the ease with which they are kept fresh and clean. Not needing to be ironed, they are much easier to launder than a whole suit or dress. They may be varied and made more attractive by the addition of a duck or bunny applique. “GLAMOUR” AND CHARM American women are the most beautiful in the world largely because they are “conscious of self" and not selfconscious, according to Mme. Marceline d'Alroy, English writer and lecturer. Self-consciousness, she said, detracts somewhat from the charm of the Englishwomen because it shows in their faces. But the “glamour boys and girls” of Hollywood left her cold. “Charm is the best inside a person, expressed outwardly through voice, manners, speech, gestures, and clothes,” she said, “while glamour i merely is a commercial fake, put on the outside only, like make-up. Glamour is a superficial quality, but charm is vital.”