ENGLAND THRILLED

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 13

ENGLAND THRILLED

PRESS FEATURING FEAT

CLARITY OF RECEPTION

(Keeeived Ist May, 8 a.m.) LONDON,' 30th April. The wireless telephone conversation between Mr. Mac Donald and Mr. Scullin is v being featured in the Press to-mor-row. Eadio enthusiasts are all agog to-night, as reports are arriving that reception of Mr. MaeDpnald's address was almost perfect at Canberra. There was slight fading on one or two occasions, but his words were never actually inaudible, on loud speakers. v There was no interference by atmospherics.Tf jthe" people in Australia heard Mr. Mac Donald as plainly as was heard Mr. Scullin at No. 10, Downing Street, wHere a dozen privileged, journalists did not miss a, syllable in their verr batim report, there is no need to recount what passed between the Prime Ministers. , ■. . Mr. MaeDonald sat in his usual chair in the Cabinet room, with an ordinary telephone. The journalists were in the next I'oom, each with a telephone connected 'to an array of- amplifiers. The Postmaster-General, Professor LeesSmith, beaming on the new marvel his Department had fashioned in the face of much criticism, kept Mr. Mac Donald company. The Prime Minister's son, Malcolm, gave a family touch by joining the journalists, glad to take one of their spare headphones, i Miss Ishbel Mac Donald unluckily was out of London and missed the thrill. At 8.25 a.m., after repeated testa, was heard the final "O.K"to Mr. Badenach, who replied: "All ready at Canberra, Mr. Mercer." Then punctually as Big Ben chimed 8.30, the conversation began. There was not the remotest suggestion of atmospherics at this end. Those mid-Victorian courtesies, "My dear Mr. Scullin" and "My dear Mr. Mac Donald," sounded a little novql, contrasted with the stereotyped matter-of-faetness of every-day conversation on London exchanges. But it was not costing £2 a minute. EXTENSION HINTED AT. Everyone was interested in Mi*. MacDonald's disclosure that it was hoped soon to connect Australia with the greater part of Europe, and the whole of North America', via London, but nothing delighted listeners more than Mr. Mac Donald % "By the by, this 'ashes' business," and his subtle allusion to the effect of lavish hospitality on the fate of the " ashes.'' Two Australians in the room, and hundreds listening to the broadcast, were tickled' by Mr. Scullin's promise that there would be no embargo on the import of the Ashes to Australia. No doubt Mr. Mao Donald's quiet chuckle thereat was heard in Australia. - Mr. Scullin's voice carried perfectly, indeed it was true, as, Mr. MaeDonald said in closing: "You seem just to have been in the next room." Mr. Scullin retorted:'"The same with you.'! Finally there was Mr. Mac Donald's "an revoir till September. All best things attend you. Ta-ta." '■- . Photographs of the historic scene were taken, after which Mr. MaeDonald came to the journalists' room bubbling over with enthusiasm. He said: "You know I had not heard Mr. Scullin since 1906, but I recognised his voice at the first word." Professor Lees-Smith, who was most proud of the success,' revealed that a conversation at that moment was going on between Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Hughes.-