ESPERANTO

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 19 May 1925, Page 9

ESPERANTO

THE FIFTH AUSTRALASIAN

CONGRESS.

The' New Zealand delegates to the fifth Australasiau Esperanto Congress, which was held .in Melbourne during Easter, returned home this week Mr. W. H. King (Wellington), who was appointed president of the congress reports that in every way the occasion w;is a great success. There were 130 delegates from all the Australian States and New Zealand.' Among them were some who attended the world's congresses at.Praha, and Nurnberg. Great publicity was given; the' congress by the Melbourne Press, articles and photographs being freely published. During jthe inspection of the Botanical Gardens cinema operators photographed delegates, the pictures being screened: at one of the leading picture-houses. .' '' " '

A-conversazione was held at the Austral Salon, where a musical and elocutionary .programme, in Esperanto, was enjoyed. Forty-five children, from' two primary schools, gave a demonstration in the Melba Hall. The command and knowledge of the language was laudable. Songs sung in Esperanto clearly showed that Esperanto is richly musical. The International Ball, attended by 200 couples, was a feature of the congress, the large variety of costumes calling for special mention.

Three business meetings were held, at which the reports of the chief delegates were received. Plans for future working were discussed. Wireless was specially mentioned. Mr. Rawson, the congress secretary, informed the assembly^ that, following a lead of the Esperantists in Great Britain, America, Canada, and many European towns, he had made arrangements with the wireless , authorities in Melbourne for regular lessons and lectures to be broadcast. Mr. Fosto, the secretary of the Sydney Esperanto Club, annuonced that he had acted similarly, arid that the AmericanRadio Belay League had accepted Esperanto as being, eminently suited for the purpose. The matter of the Geneva Wireless (Esperanto) Station, which is being established now, and will broadcast Esperanto to every corner of the earth, day and night, showed the great progress that Esperanto, as an international language has made, and of what may be expected in the future. The following motions were adopted by congress' members :—

■ Th.if. the' State branches bo asked to organise appeals on behalf of- the

Geneva Esperanto Wireless Station,

That the Postmaster-General accedo to tho League of Nation's request, made to its members last September' that Esperanto be recognised as a* "plain language" in telegraphic and radio-telegraphic communications." That the Minister of Education be approached with a view to permitting Esperanto to be taught as a voluntary subject in State schools.

A motion that the Melbourne' Chamber of Commerce be induced to consider Esperanto as other chambers have done was also agreed "to.