EMPIRE LINKED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 25, 27 December 1932, Page 6

EMPIRE LINKED

ROLL CALL OF NATION. 13,000,000 SQUARE MILES COVERED. For a little more than an hour millions of citizens of the British Empire participated in the most stupendous radio broadcast yet conducted when, from 2 a.m.-on Boxing Day (New Zealand summer time), the Empire station at Daventry, England, held a roll-call of Empire and transmitted to the farthest outposts a three-minute speech by His Majesty the King. It was a triumph for British genius and it probably linked the constituent parts of the nation more closely and realistically than ever before in history. In New Zealand, 12,000 miles distant from the focussing point of the various countries, listeners were drawn closer than ever before, and the most experienced must have felt a thrill prompted by this fresh conquest of radio. , At 2 a.m. in New Zealand, Big Ben signalled 2 o’clock on Christmas afternoon in the heart of London, and listeners then heard the British Broadcasting Corporation’s choir, accompanied by the orchestra, render ‘‘Land of Hope and Glory.” The 8.8. C. announcer indicated the nature of the “roll call,” which was to embrace countries covering an area of 13,000,000 square miles, so that the Empire might know how each part of itself was spending—or had spent—Christmas 1932. He mentioned that Christmas began for the House of Parliament on December 22, for the Stock Exchange on December 23 and for the factories and offices on December 24. After a Christmas hymn, the tour of the British Isles commenced, the regional stations linking up with London and Daventry for the purpose. London reported a wintry afternoon with t'he mercury standing at 41 degrees Fahr. Cardiff was visited, and after the music of Wales was heard the Irish Sea \was crossed and the Belfast announcer was heard. Both places gave a musical selection. Edinburgh reported wintry weather, with a mild temperature, practically no wind and snow on the ground, and concluded with “Auld Lang Syne.” Passing to Dublin, it was reported that visibility at Bristol was mainly good. The sun was shining in Dublin. A tune was played on the Irish pipes there. SHIP MAJESTIC AT SEA. Proceeding westward, listeners then ieft the Homeland and the announcer was heard calling shipping. In a remarkably short tune contact was established, and in response to the question, “What ship is that S'” the reply came, “This is the White Star liner ‘Majestic.” The captain, speaking from the bridge of the great liner in midAtlantic, reported that the ship was in longitude 48 deg. west and latitude 43.59 deg. and experiencing heavy weather on her voyage across. He described how the day was being, spent by all classes, dancing following the Christmas fare. After fareweding the Majestic and extending the compliments of the season, the announcer “crossed the Atlantic” and called Halifax. The time there was 10.20 a.m., Christmas Day. The day was a typical one with a light fall of snow. Montreal responded to the next call and gave their time as 9.30, speaking in both French and English. Remarking that snow had fallen, the Canadian said: “Perhaps some day you will come and see us; don’t be afraid of the cold.” ROAR OF NIAGARA. One of the greatest thrills came when Toronto answered the roll-call. “Good morning! We have just had breakfast . . . There is a sunny springlike sky,” said the announcer. He asked listeners to stand by for a moment and then a land-lino to Niagara .Falls gave the world one of its biggest radio thrills. For about half a minute a microphone in the vicinity of the great falls faithfully picked up the deafening and continuous roar of the millions of gallons of water tumbling over the precipice. Winnipeg was next called and responded at 8.32 in the morning, with “a golden sun shining and the snow sparkling like a million diamonds.” This was one of the clearest announcements and the speaker stated that it was “good to be alive.” The great continent was crossed and Vancouver told the world that it was 6 a.m., “nearly dawn.” Looking down from his window, the announcer could see the ships at anchor in the great harbour. WELLINGTON’S CARILLON. Listeners then “passed out of Christmas Day” and crossed to Wellington, New Zealand, where at 2.40, Mr Clive Drummond, the Dominion’s popular ahnouncer, had the honour of telling the Empire of New Zealand’s loyalty. He spoke in the Maori tongue as well as in English and the broadcast ended with a selection from the National War Memorial Carillon, the 8.8. C. announcer stating that “the strains had been wafted by the south-east wind through Cook Strait.” New Zealand listeners to this message as relayed from 2YA heard it after it had passed round the world twice and traversed 24,000 miles. At 12.45 in Sydney the announcer stated that the day had been glorious and from Melbourne a member of the M.C.C. team, spoke for the cricketers. Melbourne also gave greetings for South, West and North Australia and Tasmania. Brisbane was the last point to give Australia’s greetings. LINER TO LONDON.

After greeting India, , Borneo, Singapore, Mandalay and Ceylon, the London announcer called Capetown and the South African speaker extended the Union’s compliments. The next big thrill came when Port Said was announced and the captain of the liner Empress of Britain responded. Lying in Port Said harbour, the ship was due to leave next day in continuation of lier cruise of the East, the itinerary of which was given. The captain stated that the majority of the passengers were spending Christmas Day at Cairo. The roll-call concluded as greetings were sent to the Navy in the Mediterranean and to the garrison at Gibraltar, the epilogue being a Christmas hymn. HIS MAJESTY’S SPEECH. Tire 8.8. C. announcer betrayed a slight trace of anticipatory emotion when, at 3.12 o’clock, lie announced His Majesty tire King. Speaking in homely tones and a voice which was admirably, suited to radio, His Majesty, from Sandringham, said that wireless seemed to be a good omen for the Empire being linked to a closer union. “My aim lias been to serve,” lie said. “I am speaking from my home—and from my heart,»” said His Majesty, as he conveyed to all parts of his far-flung Empire, his good wishes tp the blind, the sick, those who were fit and well, and children and grandchildren; and asked for God’s blessing on them. The National Anthem concluded the broadcast at 3.15. Those listeners who tuned in their receivers to the broadcast band before 2 o’clock found it crowded with stations. Every one of the national stations in Australia was on tire air for a continental relay, while the B

stations were also operating. The four Dominion stations were also in operation. Reception from 2YA v.'is not as good as it has been, but 2FC Syct* ney broadcast the proceedings very satisfactorily, so that almost every word of the London announcer was heard. Static became a little troublesome towards the end. BRITAIN’S HOPES REALISED. This broadcast was of tremendous significance so far as the British Empire was concerned for it was the consummation of the hopes of many years. In 1927, when - the world-famous Dutch station PCJJ led the way in short-wave broadcasting by being rebroadcast by. the old 2BL station in Sydney, the London Wireless 'World had the following comment, which is now most interesting: “It will be of interest to observe whether this example set by Holland will be followed by other countries in Europe. Personally, we should be sorry to see stations established in this countrv to work on wavelengths of.that order unless ample notice were given, for the reason that comparatively few sets in the hands of the public would be capable of listening to the transmissions. ' The only application which we can see at the moment for a shortwave broadcasting station in this country would be for. the purpose of overseas communication. . . It is a matter for regret that we should so far have neglected to take advantage of the wonderful opportunity which broadcasting provides for communication with the outlying sections of the Empire. When we know that wireless sets are being bought in places as far distant as India and Iraq, in the hope of being able to pick up the transmissions from Daventry once in a while for, perhaps, no more than a few minutes wo can form some idea of the enthusiasm that would be created if a short-wave British station were established in this country of sufficient power to be heard more or less consistently!” After five years and eight months, Christmas, 1932, enabled Britain to lead the world in the field of radio communication by her Empire transmitter.

From 9.30 until 11 o’clock last evening the record of the broadcasts was transmitted from Daventry, but owing to atmospherics and morse interference listeners had only a very faint conception of the success of the original transmission. The chief interest lay in the fact of a permanent record being obtained of the proceedings.