EMPIRE BROADCAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 December 1934, Page 5

EMPIRE BROADCAST

THE KING’S HOMELY SPEECH OVERSEAS CONTRIBUTIONS [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN. — > (Rtecd. December 26, 1 p.m.) LONDON, December 25. Their Majesties, the Prince of Wales, Duke and Duchess of York, and Duke and Duchess of Kent walked to church this morning, then attended a family luncheon party, and drank the King’s health, after which. His Majestey left the family, walked into his study, and waited until a red light signalled the time to begin his speech. The Royal Family listened in an adjacent room through a loudspeaker. It was noticeable that his Majestey did not need to hesitate, or clear bis throat. There was no sign of a cough. England enjoyed a fireside Christmas, most pleasure haunts being dead. It was thus as they sat at the fireside, England heard the King, as father of the British Family, wish them Christmas cheer, from his own fireside at Sandringham. The King’s speech was couched in more homely terms than was probably ever before used by a monarch. He struck a most responsive note, particularly in a simple appeal to India. The Empire exchange broadcast was excellently heard. Through London’s silence came the roll of drums from eight thousand natives at Johannesburg, the clatter of horses’ hoofs as the stockman rounded up strays in Central Queensland, the chirping of birds and laughter of children at Botanical Gardens, Melbourne, a homely homily from a Tasmanian fisherman, and harbour bridge and life-saver’s, broadcast from Sydney. Canada’s broadcast was especially good. Amid snow 4000 feet above Vancouver, the broadcaster gave a vivid impression of twinkling lights and “a steamer, I think it is the Aorangi, ..is just entering the harbour.” New Zealand also .was excellent, although the melody of the Maoris’ singing was rather lost in transmission. Long distance telephone conversations with major European capitals showed that all was quiet on the western and eastern fronts.

DUKE DISAPPOINTED. AUCKLAND. December ( 26. Sitting up until 3 a.m., to-day, the Duke of Gloucester heard patches of his father’s Empire broadcast speech from Sandringham. The reception on the elaborate receiving set in Government House was on the whole poor, but His Highness was able to hear some sentences quite distinctly. IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, December 26. The King’s broadcast and exchange of greetings among all parts of the Empire was heard splendidly in Australia. N.Z. MESSAGE TO KING AUCKLAND, December 26. Messages of Christmas.greeting with special reference to the visit of the Duke of Gloucester have been exchanged between the Governor-General on behalf of the people of the Dominion, and His Majesty the King. The message sent by His Excellency was:-—“On behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand, as well as ourselves, I respectfully tender to' Your Majesties the most loyal and affectionate good wishes for Christmas and the New Year. We rejoice to have in our midst during the festive season, His Royal Highness, the Duke of Gloucester.” His Excellency has received the following reply from His Majesty:—“The Queen and I thank you for your message and much appreciate the good wishes of the Government and the people of New Zealand. We are very glad oui- son is with you and we hope that the New Year will be a happy and prosperous one for New Zealand. ’