SOUTHERN SEAS BROADCAST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 25 May 1933, Page 7

SOUTHERN SEAS BROADCAST

EMPIRE SENTIMENTS IMMENSE SUCCESS (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, 24th May. The Southern Seas broadcast of Empire sentiments to-night was immensely successful. The eloquent speeches .J Lord Bledisloe at Rotorua and Mr Flower at Christchurch were heard here most clearly, not a word being missed. The Maori haka at Wellington studio was. a unique feature which delighted Australian listeners. Earl Jellicoe’s voice was heard with the same clarity as the New Zealanders . The Duke of Connaught’s message of good cheer and observations on the marvels of radio telephony made a deep impression, as did the 'rousing speech of Sir Henry Gray, Montreal, on the sub-" ject of a united Empire. The programme went oft without a hitch, marking a- new era in Empire broadcasting JUNIOR CARLTON CLUB’S CELEBRATION (Received 25th May, 11.30 a.m.) ; LONDON, 24th May. Sir Thomas Wilford and Mr Bruce were among the guests at the Junior Carlton Club’s ; celebration on Empire Day. Lord Derby, who presided, exhibited a sheaf of congratulatory messages from all parts of the Empire, including the King, Sir Isaac Isaacs, and Lord Bledisloe. The menu consisted of such exotics as birds’ nests, and shark fin soup, but Welsh and New Zealand lamb and Scotch beef formed ■ the backbone of the luncheon. RECEPTION IN NELSON The reception of the broadcast in Nelson was not good owing to static interference. However ulany listeners followed the programme with interest through either the New Zealand Y.A. stations or the main Australian stations. The broadcast was one of the most comprehensive yet attempted in the Southern Hemisphere, the entire national wireless networks of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands being linked with the control centre at Sydney.

The proposal for this undertaking was initiated by the New South Wales Branch of the Royal Empire Society for the purpose of utilising, in the tangible form of this broadcast, the occasion of the Empire Day dinners throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, to give expression to the world of the unity of the British people in the Southern Hemisphere, and to demonstrate the efficiency of the Australian and New Zealand link in the chain of the Empire’s communications. The broadcast demonstrated the universality of wireless telephony for from Sydney at the commencement of the proframmo a “roll-call” of all the important roadcasting centres in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Pacific Islands, and Nauru took place and the summons and reply was heard in each case.

Following the roll-call Sir Hugh Denison, presiding at the Empire Da.y dinner in Sydney, called upon the chairman of the dinner at Christchurch to propose the health of “The King,” and the toast was drunk simultaneously at many a dinner throughout the South Spas. • The toast .“The Governor-General” was proposed by the New South Wales President of the Empire Society who was supported by the ■ chairman at Christchurch, and the toast was accorded musical honours. Brief responses were made by Sir Isaac Isaacs, GovernorGeneral of Australia, and by Lord Bledisloe, Governor-General of New Zealand. Then from London Earl Jellicoe delivered a message. A toast, “The State Governors,” was proposed by Sir James Barrett, President of the Victorian branch of the Royal Empire Society, the response being made by the Governor of Victoria. The controlling announcer at Sydney then introduced His Royal Highness, the Duke of Connaught, President of the Society, who spoke from London. “United Empire” was proposed from Ottawa, and was supported by the Hon. Archdale Parkhill, Postmaster-General, Australia, and the replies were made by the Rt. Hon. J. H. Whitley, chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation in London, and by Mr C. Lloycl Jones, chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Another toast, “Workers in the Empire Cause,” was proposed by Sir Josiah Simon in Adelaide, and supported by Dr. W. N. Robertson in Brisbane. The response was made by Mr E. T. Eisk, chairman.of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd. The London-Australia radio-telephone service brought the British speakers clearly to Sydney. The musical portion of the programme was supplied by the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s orchestra in conjunction with the combined choirs of the Musical Association of New South Wales and of the Broadcasting Commission. Vocal solos were rendered by Miss Lilian Gibson, contralto, and Mr Alfred Cunningham, baritone, who is well known in New Zealand. The broadcast was wonderfully well organised and went off to time without any hitch.