SIMPLE MESSAGE FROM KING

Southland Times, Issue 23392, 27 December 1937, Page 6

SIMPLE MESSAGE FROM KING

Empire Broadcast On Christmas Day CONTRAST TO FORMER OCCASIONS In striking contrast to former Empire Christmas broadcasts, in which persons in all parts of the British Empire took part before King George V gave his greetings to his subjects, was the simple and personal message which. King George VI broadcast from Sandringham on Christmas Day. The talk was delivered at three o’clock yesterday morning, New Zealand time, and a recording of it was broadcast from the New Zealand national _ stations at 10 o’clock yesterday morning. The message was preceded by Bow Bells,' the striking of Big Ben and the National Anthem at the slower tempo, decreed for Royal occasions. The King’s message was very brief, little more than 200 words, and was spoken slowly and very distinctly. His Majesty said:— Many of you will remember the Christmas broadcasts of former years when my father spoke to his people at home and overseas as the revered head of a great family. His words brought happiness into the homes and hearts of listeners all over the world. I cannot aspire to take his place nor do I think you would wish me to carry on unvaried a tradition so uersonal to him, but as this is the first Christmas since our Coronation the Queen and I feel we want to send you a message of gratitude for the love and affection poured forth from every quarter of the Empire in this year. We have promised to try to be wor hy of your trust and this is a pledge that we shall always keep. As we look back on the yegr closing we feel in the path of the world the shadow of enmity and fear, but let us turn to the message Christmas brings of peace and goodwill. Let us see to it that this spirit shall in the end prevail and everyone of us can help by making that motto message the keystone of our lives. So to all of you, whether at home among your families as we are, or in hospitals or at your posts carrying out duty that cannot be left undone we send our Christmas greeting and wish you God’s blessing, health and prosperity in the years that lie ahead.