HOLLAND ON THE AIR!

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 128, 2 June 1927, Page 10

HOLLAND ON THE AIR!

QUEEN WILHELMINA SPEAKS.

RELATED FROM SYDNEY

STATION.

LONG ADDRESS IN DUTCH TONGUE

Radio enthusiasts—or, rather, the more enthusiastic of the radio public— in Auckland left their beds at the chiHy hour of five this morning in order to hear Queen Wilhelmina, of Holland, address Dutch residents of Java, Precisely at 5.15 Her Majesty's voice was heard, very distinctly, and without interruption, according to the report of an Aucklander.

The broadcast commenced at 3.7, Auckland time, a few introductory remarks, in Dutch, com ing , over the air at that time three minutes later a Dutch band played the National Anthem of Holland, and then came the speech—in Dutch, of course. Hundreds of people who didn't understand a word of it listened to every syllable.

The speech was relayed by 2BL station, Sydney. The snort-wave Dutch station, PCJJ, broadcasted the sj>eocli and the incidental music. Selections by the band were heard at 5.10, 5.30 and 5.39, the Queen taking a rest between times. The concluding portion of her oration began at 5.4."> and finished at 6 o'clock.

An explanation of what had taken place was provided for colonial listeners by the announcer at 2BL Sydney, who stated that the speech was delivered in Holland, primarily for the bcnelit of Dutch nationals in Java. By way of a concession to those who had "listened for nearly an hour to a dissertation in a gutteral foreign tongue, interspersed with unfamiliar musical numbers, the Sydney station provided a short programme of music after Holland nad been cut out.

Many local amateurs an> -rat hie,! with the success of their efforts to obtain clear reception. Kvery word was heard distinctly. The Quei-n spoke with much earnestness ami deliberation.