King’s Empire Day Broadcast

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 13, 17 January 1939, Page 4

King’s Empire Day Broadcast

PROBABLY FROM TORONTO LONDON, Dec. 15. The following announcement on broadcasts by the King was issued last night from Buckingham Palace:— “Tho King will not broadcast on Christmas Day this year. “His Majesty, as stated in his broadcast last year, does not propose to follow this practice on every Christmas Day in future. He hopes, however, to take the opportunity of his presence in Canada next summer to speak to the people of the Empire from that Dominion on Empire Day.” It is understood that this announcement does not mean that the King will never make another Christmas Day broadcast. It is felt tliat regular broadcasts by tho King might lessen their value. The broadcast on Empire Day (May 24) will be made from wlnerever the King happens to be on that occasion. According to the tentative itinerary arranged, ho will be at Toronto. The Empire Day broadcast will be tne first made by the Sovereign outside the British Isles.

No arrangements for the transmission of the speech have yet been considered, but Canadian officials stated yesterday that it will be sent out on the shortwave system by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and relayed through the British Broadcasting Corporation. Last year Empire Day was celebrated in the British Broadcasting Corporation programmes by a broadcast of the Royal Command concert at the Albert Hall, attended by their Majesties.