A RADIO TEST

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 149, 19 March 1936, Page 10

A RADIO TEST

Experiment From Parliament “FAIRY TALES” TO 2YA A trial of the radio broadcasting paratus. in the House of Representatives was made yesterday in preparation for the opening of Parliament next Wednesday. Although no official report was made available, it is understood that the experiment x as not perfect, bitt such defects as were revealed xvere.of the kind that can be remedied by mechanical adjustment. The preliminary test, of course, was not made over the air. It was confined to communication between Parliament House and Well’ -gton’s 2YA station. The broadcasting "authorities sent a representative to Parliament House who liad tiie “right” voice for speaking on the air. Witli one microphone only in use—there will be four when the system is in practical service —the expert spoke first from the Speaker’s chair, then from the Prime Minister’s bench, from the Opposition benches and lastly from the centre of the Government’s seats in the House. He read from what a spectator subsequently described as "fairy tales or some such stuff.” It is believed that there were some adjustable defects in the transmission 'from the House to 2YA station. The prospective use of radio broadcasts from Parliament House has caused much Interest among legislators. It i< recognised that the innovation will be of great electoral value to the Ministers and members who have been gifted naturally with good “speaking voices.” Others, less favoured, may be sorry for letting loose their voices into lite outer atmosphere. Whatever tiie future may hold, there has been no effort made by members of Parliament so far to take lessons in tiie art of speaking through a radio microphone.