KING'S BROADCAST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22352, 25 February 1936, Page 9

KING'S BROADCAST

WORLD-WIDE INTEREST NEXT SUNDAY'S EVENT FIRST SINCE HIS ACCESSION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 23 Great interest has been aroused, not only throughout the British Empire, but all over the world, by the announcement that King Edward will broadcast for the first time since his accession on Sunday afternoon, March 1. The King's voice is familiar to listeners over the wireless. He was, indeed, the first member of the Royal Family to broadcast. This was as far hack as 1922, when, having addressed a gathering of 50,000 Boy Scouts at Alexandra Palace, he spoke later through the microphone to those who could not attend the rally. There were then less than 18,000 holders of wireless licences in Britain, compared with several millions to-day. Most of the King's broadcasts were on behalf of charity. One which is particularly remembered was his appeal for the relief of distress among the miners in 1928, which, within a few days, produced contributions amounting t0'£370.000. He has, on several occasions, broadcast on behalf of the unemployed, and in April last year made another remarkably successful appeal over the microphone for King George's Jubilee Trust, the funds of which were devoted to providing further *neans of healthy recreation and training for young people.