RADIO HISTORY MADE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1931, Page 2

RADIO HISTORY MADE

JAVA-AUSTTmLIA talk. SYDNEY, July 18 A New Zealander made some radio history on Sunday nisht, when. Mr L. J. Schmitt, New Zealand trade representative in New South Wales, .conducted successfully the first radio trade conversation between Batavia and Australia. Air Schmitt spoke to Air Lowndes, of his Sydney office, at the latter s home, and to Airs Schmitt and his children at their home. Ho reported to Air Lowndes that he was expectant that his visit*.would result in a'- decided fillip to trade- between New Zealand and Java, and that he was being received everywhere with the greatest courtesy and consideration. Business men in Java seemed most desirous to know what New Zealand had to sell them, and eager to let New Zealand know what Java wanted to sell to the Dominion. AVhen he showed four films-of New Zealand at Batavia, 1600 people attended, and voted it a capital entertainment. He had purchased four Alaori records in Batavia, and had them played at the show. Alt' Lowndes: I hope you will get Some revenge- ill Java for the way Australia, lids beaten New Zealand to it in Canada. Ml* Schmitt: If I can only get each of the 40,000,000 inhabitants of Java to buy each an ounce of New Zealand butter a dny, I will be able to book up the export trade of the Dominion for the next' 100 years! Air Schmitt spoke then to h.is wife at their AVaverley home, and to his son and daughter. One of his daughters is in hospital, and he ordered that she Should be provided with a box of choeoif medical opinion was favourable to that indulgence. One of his hosts in Java who also took part in the historic conversation,, generously ordered an “enormous bunch of flowers” to be sent to the little girl in. his name. Although the children had plenty, to say when their mother was speaking, they were almost speechless when they found themselves really in touch with their father in faraway Java. They seemed the most impressed of all at the conversation over such a distance. Otherwise, it might have been a somewhat ordinary telephone, talk between two city offices.