TELLING THE WORLD

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1937, Page 7

TELLING THE WORLD

NEWS BY SHORT-WAVE

SERVICE FROM DOMINION

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 28. As part of the Government's schemes iof the development of broadcasting services the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) proposes to intro- / riuce a regular short-wave broadcast j from New Zealand'to other, countries. By broadcasting from a powerful station in more. than one language, Mr. Savage hopes to be able to tell other nations what is being achieved in New Zealand, as well as to advertise its products and attractions! In an interview on Saturday, Mr. Savage said that he.expected this overseas service would be operating withiin the next 12 months. The scheme would be dealt with immediately arrangements for the. Dominion's in-, ternal service were completed. Some means of broadcasting to other countries would have to be established. New Zealand was hearing from other nations every other day, in broadcast talks in English, what was happening- on the other side of the world, he said, and the Dominion itself was just as anxious to be heard as to hear irom other nations. If/other nations could broadcast their news, views, and achievements in English so that we could hear them, we we're just as much entitled to do the same'for them.. , TOURISTS. "AV.e-wa'nt to put New Zealand on , the;map. completely," Mr.'Savage said. . "The1, only way to do it, we feel, is to let the people of other nations know what we are doing and-why, the attractions of our country and its capabilities to produce, and what the Government is aiming at and is achieving. I do not'think that there is any better way of advertising ourselves to othen nations and of furthering our relationship with pther ■ nations than this way. ■ We are a .small- country -with modern ideas, and we want everyone to know about us." The Prime Minister emphasised, the value his scheme of overseas broadcast would have in attracting'tourists. It was possible to develop better trade,relations not only by using trade commissioners but by using radio as well. ■ . ' '

Mr. Savage explained that it was intended'to carry on the broadcasting of Parliamentary debates and to develop a radio :news service, "so that people can understand not only what we are doing; |n "Parliament by way of new legislation, but' how we are faring in the administration of the law."

The Government intended to let New Zealand1 and the world know what its intentions were and how it wasgettihg on in achieving those objectives, andit was felt at '-the same time that a system of. international radio contact would assist greatly in developing •'• better understanding between nations. In fact, he :hoped;that such a-scheme would be discussed ■at the Imperial Conference, and that .the Empire-would go in for a bigger plan than . the New Zealand service could be. A& Empire service vlinking: other nations: in' the exchange of views ■vvould do much to foster such a great cause as international peace, for instance. ■'From this point of ' view I can imagine no greater influence than broadcasting," said. Mr. Savage.