KING’S BROADCAST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 64, 27 December 1935, Page 5

KING’S BROADCAST

“THIS GREAT FAMILY.” DEEPLY TOUCHED BY GREETINGS SYMPATHY WITH DISTRESSED. The Empire Christmas Broadcast was redeived in New Zealand early yesterday morning, under favourable conditions. As Big Ben ceased striking, tho announcer of the British Broadcasting Corporation said: “This is London calling. You have ‘just heard, Big Ben striking 2.30 in the afternoon of Christmas Day.” A portion of tho speech of liis Majesty on the occassion of the Empire broadcast of the jubilee celebrations was repeated, and there followed ten sound pictures, five of which were provided by Canada, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand. The first greeting came from the North of England, where a workman, his wife and family offered Christmas greetings to everybody, and especially to cousins in Canada. Another family in Ottawa spoke back to England, and from there the scene shifted to a farmer’s home in Scotland, where the farmer and his wife called up South Africa. Next came the voice of a fisherman from County Down (Ireland), to be followed by a description of festivities in an Indian village. Children in the Aberdare hospital in Wales conveyed greetings and sang carols for kinsmen in all parts of the Empire, and particularly in New South Wales, where they were reciprocated. A London taxi driver told briefly of the same old traffic and the same old Christmas in Piccadilly, and finally the grandchildren of Sir Harold Beauchamp greeted their grandfather in Wellington. The two children also extended greetings to the King, whose message came across the 12,000 miles of space to this Dominion with wonderful clarity. His Majesty speaks. i■ • ' “I wish all my dear friends a happy Christmas,” said his Majesty. “I have been deeply touched by the greetings which, in the last few minutes, have reached me from all parts of the Empire. Let me send all of you greetings from myself. My words will ho very simple, but spoken from the heart on this festival of Christmas. The year that is passing, the twenty-fifth since my accession, has been to me the most memorable, for it has called forth a spontaneous offering of loyalty, and I may say of love, which the Queen and I will never forget. How could I fail to note in all the rejoicing the increasing respect for the Throne and for the man himself who, may God help him, has been placed upon it. “It is this personal link between me and my people that I value more than I can say. It binds us together, in all our Common joys and sorrows as wb<m, this year, you showed your happiness in the marriage of my son, and youi sympathy in the death of my beloved sister. I feel this link now as I speak to you, for I am thinking not so much of the’Empire itself, as of the individual men, women, and children who live within it, whether they are dwelling here at home, or in some distant part of the Empire. “In Europe and in many parts ct the world anxiety is felt. It is good to think that our family of peoples is at peace in,itself and, indeed, at one in the desire to be at peace with other nations, a friend of all, and enemy of none. May the spirit of goodwill and mutual helpfulness grow and spread, and may it bring not only the blessing of peace, but also a solution of tho economic troubles which still beset us. I Deepest Sympathy. “To those who are suffering or in distress, whether in this country or in any part of the world, I offer my deepest sympathy, but I also give a Christmas message of hope and good cheer. United by a bond of loyal service, let us prove ourselves strong to endure and resolute to overcome. “Once again, as I close, I send to all and not the least to the children who may be listening to me, my best Christmas wishes, and to those of my dear wife and children and grand-children who are with me I add a heartfelt prayer that whenever you are God may bless and help you always.” The broadcast concluded with the National Anthem in different parts of the Empire.