RADIO CONCERTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18053, 13 January 1927, Page 9

RADIO CONCERTS.

To the Editor. Sir,—“The Broadcasting Company has again failed in its obligations . . . for the benefit of crystal set owners.” Thus opens a letter from your correspondent “Radio Bug.” I low the Broadcasting Company failed in its obligations, when it was under no obligation to relay (?) the so-called test programme, is beyond my comprehension. Any attempt at a relay (?) of last night's concert would have been absolutely impossible, as a land line between Auckland and Christchurch is quite out of the question and the only other means by which “R. 8.” c6uld have heard the concert on his muchprized crystal set would have been by re-broadcast, which, under the best of conditions is most unsatisfactory, to say the least. Again, it was 3YA’s silent night, the only One of the seven in the week on which owners of Pther than crystal sets can enjoy the advantages of their sets. And, “because we are in the majority we are entitled to receive some consideration on the special nights,” fs another ambiguous statement. from the fact that last night was the first “special night” yet attempted. “Radio Bug” has little cause to complain about the consideration shown to crystal set owners. They have six nights out of the seven on which they can enjoy music, song and story, and in my humble opinion the programmes put on by 3YA on the whole compare very favourably with those from elsewhere in the Dominion. Anyway, I think “R. 8.” is getting good value for his Id per dav, and if he is not satisfied with the fare he gets he should dig deeper and shout himself a valve set.

“R.B.’s” final statement that “the crystal set owners are the backbone of the radio industry in this country,” is all piffle. They spend from Ss 6d to £3 for a set and buy sixpenny worth of crystal once in a while, and I must say' that if the radio industry’s backbone is only as big as the profits derived from such business, it's a poor look-out for the industry, and it would certainly be a “one man band,” to use a phrase of “R.B.’s.” In conclusion, I would like to express the opinion that we in New' Zealand have very little to complain about in respect to the broadcast service so far in operation. It should be remembered that all things must have their beginnings and that minor hitches arc bound to occur in the best of regulated concerns, but taking aU things into consideration, we have much to be thankful for. Our regulations are.. T think, the most generous of any, and the P. and T. Department and the Broadcasting Company have certainly spent, much thought and consideration On the broadcast question. With all due respect for “R.B.’b” opinion, I think he is a bit one-eyed in his views, and a more mature consideration of the whole question should convince him that the solution of his imaginary grievances lies in his own hands.— Yours, etc., FAIR PLAY.