BROADCASTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19683, 28 December 1933, Page 14

BROADCASTING

AN EMPIRE EFFORT CLEAR RECEPTION New Zealand radio listeners found themselves at the bottom of the deepest Welsh mine, among other places, in the course of a remarkable Empire broadcast from London on Tuesday. I The programme had been splendidly | arranged and greetings travelled from | London to Ireland, Bermuda, Canada. New Zealand. Sydney, India, Capetown and back to London.

The actual broadcast was carried out about 2 a.m. on Tuesday but a special recording was made to send out from London in the evening when conditions in New Zealand and other parts of the Empire were more suitable for reception. The transmission of this recording, which was rebroadcast by the Dominion's YA stations, began at 8.15 p.m. and continued until 9.20. Reception was remarkably clear, especially from London, where every word of the announcer could be heard. Pi oceedings opened w r ith a description by the London announcer in Broadcasting House of Christmas scenes in Londcn, when listeners were taken to the East I?nd, the docks and Smithfield and h ; rd the chiming of bells all over the city. By land line listeners were taken further afield to childrens parties in Gloucester and Birmingham and then to York Minster, where hundreds were attending service. A short stay was made at a West Country cider party, followed by a trip to a South Wales mining village, to Lancashire, to Belfast, where greetings were sent to New Zealand, and to a party in Scotland. The atmosphere of typical scenes was vividly conveyed by the various d : '- lects.

Even greater variety was lent to the broadcast by a descent in the Welsh mine where the description was supplied by a miner on duty watching the pit. Listeners heard the roar of the powerful winding engine as the cage went down and this was followed by the thud of the pumps. The miner who declared that he and his mate were inspecting the mine, sent Christmas greetings from pit bottom, especially to miners the world over. A stop was made at a Welsh church service and the next destination was the top of the great Rugby wireless masts where work was going on at full strength sending greetings to the world. The power house was inspected by the officer in charge and then came the rippL of the beam transmitting the news summary and the information service, and on top of it the hum of voices through the trans-Atlantic telephone station. This part of the tour ended with a call at a lighthouse 300 yards off the Northumberland coast, where one of the two keepers greeted the world, and then a return •'as made to a children’s party in Glasgow where a pantomime was in full swing. “Absent Friends.” From London the toast of “Absent Friends w r as then sent to *he people of the Empire and thus began the chain of greetings and expressions of loyalty from Empire wireless stations. I ndon called r ablin, where the day was overcast after a sunny morning. The Dublin announcer stated tha" the streets were deserted while the churches were thronged. He sent hearty good wishes to all Irishmen throughout the world.

Bermuda’s announcer ne::t spoke, to be followed by Ottawa, whence came greetings and an expression of loyalty to the King. The voices were comparatively clear to this stage but the speech from Wellington, th_ next station in the line, was not sc intelligible. In spite of the transmission difficulties the tones sounded very like those of Mr Clive Drummond, the well-k lown 2YA announcer. Sydney and Bombay followed and the chain was complete when the London man spoke again after from Capetown had been sent out a “handshake and a friendly smile born of the South African sunshine." In the space of 15 minutes greetings had thus travelled round the Empire. “It is one minute past three on Christmas afternoon and the chain is complete," said the London voice. “We are linked in common allegiance and interest awaiting in a vast audience to hear the voice of his Majesty the King. To him in the name of the peoples of the Empire we present greetings and the loyal messages that have passed between us on this day.” His Majesty then gave an address, which was followed by the playing of the National Anthem. “Tills is London calling on G.5.F.,” concluded th* announcer. "S is for service and F for fortune. The wave-length is 19.82 metres. London is also calling on G.S.D.; S for service and D for Daventry, with a wavelength of 25.3 metres. So ends ’Absent Friends,’ which was our special programme yesterday—Chris* w ts Day." His Majesty’s Note of Optimism The Kings Christmas greeting to the British Empire was heard by New Zealand listeners on Tuesday evening in the course of a remarkable worldwide broadcast from London. His Majesty’s message, which he delivered I from Sandringham, was rebroadcast ! by the four YA radio stations and practically every word came through with wonderful clarity. The address, as was the remainder of the Empire broadcast, was given in England or. Christmas Day ’ ut was recorded for a special transmission to New Zealand and other parts of the world on Tuesday, when conditions for reception were more suitable. His Majesty struck an optimistic note and expressed his great hope for the future at the close of a year which had . <;en great progress in many respects, particularly in relation to the increased goodwill among all portions of ie Empire. His Majesty’s voice is well suited for broadcasting and his deliberate manner minimised the difficulties of broadcast ng over 25,000 miles. Apart from u slight surging at times the only break in his address was that when he paused to cough slightly. Chain of Greetings. The King's message was as follows: Once again at this season it is my pleasure and privilege to speak directly to all the members of our world-wide family. I do so with profound emotion as well as with gratlture for the unbroken cha: i of your loyal greetings, this moment deliverci to me. In spite of many upheavals and uncertainties the j ast year has shown great progress towards the recovery and setting in order of our community, although it is not only what has already been accomplished that gives us hope in the present and c' ifidence n our future. Wireless has practically abolished time and space in dc ’.ling with each other across the width of the world, and with this discovery has arisen an intimate and closer understanding of our problems as between our- . elves a id of the wisest methov of meeting them. So it has come nl>out that questions that in the past might

have raised long and delaying discussions are more and more matters of mere adjustment. As I see It tl.e most significant development of the past year has been the every day increase of this goodwill In our outlook. We owe something of the change to modern science, but this would remain useless without the patience of ail my people My people have shown unshakeable belief and lnvinc.ble patience and these in the long :ur overcome most things th; may be brought against us. In this belief and hope I wish you all who hear, especially to the children, whose great day it is, a happy Christmas, with peace on earth and coodwill to all men. God bless ye