Empire Broadcasting

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 290, 2 September 1933, Page 20

Empire Broadcasting

Whether or not the late Harry Seton Merriman invented the type in its literary form it is certain that the “strong, silent Englishman” in far-off lands is a tradition to be reckoned with. That tradition appears to have been strengthened in the course of a • survey,, offered recently to the Royal Empire Society, of some seven months’ 1 wireless programmes for transmission ' to distant British Dominions. No fewer than 8000 letters of comment and appreciation have been received, and from them it has been gathered that “dwellers in tropical countries do not like talks unless they are very short” Listeners in Australia, Canada and New Zealand can take their talks with the best; in India and Africa they evidently prefer the talkers to ( be terse and to the point. The “strong, i silent Englishman” in those parts 1 would impose his traditional preference even on the wireless orators — though the preference Is here complicated by the fact that the weather seems to have something to do with it. In temperate zones the pioneers are ready to be talked at, but as tne thermometer goes up apparently the conversational tolerance goes down. Yet one would have thought that voices from England would be one of the , most attractive parts of a transmis- >'■ slon to distant exiles—and so .they ’ seem to be when they impart little Items of domestic news from this country. Thus we are told that in the Empire broadcasts the hearers, are given information like "Piccadilly Is up ( '■ again,” In addition to the more “solid” news, and that such purely English touches are much appreciated. The whole subject suggests a most humane 1 and Important branch of broadcasting activities.—“ Manchester Guardian.”