TALK WITH HOMELAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 10

TALK WITH HOMELAND

SWISS IN NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL RADIO FIXTURE [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Monday Several Swiss people living in New Zealand spoke by telephone with relatives in their homeland at the weekend, from the home of the Swiss Consul at Wellington, Dr. Walter Sclunid, of Ivhandallah. The call came from the Pavilion of the 400,000 Swiss Living Abroad, at the Swiss National Exhibition at Zurich. It was arranged by the association for Swiss living abroad in conjunction with the exhibition management. Ten Swiss peoplo came to Dr. Schmid's home, some from towns other than Wellington. Seven of them spoke to relatives who had journeyed to Zurich for the purpose. The sceno 'was a touching one, as the modern wonder of radio brought near the voices of relatives many thousands of miles away and, in most cases, not seen for many years. The call lasted 10 minutes. The conversation was clear. The Post and Telegraph Department had specially installed a new telephone receiving set at Dr. Schmid's homo for the purpose. Dr. Schrnid was told from Zurich than 3,000,000 people had already visited the exhibition since it openod in May. While it is in progress more than 50 Swiss communities iu all parts of the world will be called up by telephone.