EMPIRE DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1933, Page 2

EMPIRE DAY

A GREAT BROADCAST,

WORLD AVIDE SPEECHES

On Wednesday night a great Empire Day broadcast was carried out, speeches being heard from r.ll parts of the world. No broadcast of such magnitude had ever before 'been attempted in the S°uthei’n .Hemisphere. A vast amount of preparatory work was necessary to ensure that its continuity was unbroken, and the voices of speakers from Sydney, C nberra,, Christchurch, London, Melbourne, Ottawa, Adelaide, and Brisbane were heard much n>s. if the speakei’s wer e being called upon in turn by the /‘haii-man of one gathering. The far-distant points of the Empire were brought within the walls of every listener's home. Although the London broadcasts by Ear.! J.pHicoe and hr, Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught were indistinct, for the most part reception everywhere was excellent.

TRIUMPH OF ORGANISATION. 'The nerve-centre of the whole broad, cast was the control room of the Australian Broadcasting C omm is'dou’ s headquarters in Sydney. To that point the whole Australian national network was linked by lancl-line. The short-wave station,, 2ME Sydney, 3ME Melbourne,. ZLW Wellington, New Zealand, transmitted the Speeches from each country .for broadcast and rebroadcast, and in New Zealand the celebrations were conveyed to almost every .home through the Broadcasting Board’s YA stations. The whole work wa, a triumph of organisation and technical .achievement, and should bring .appreci’bly nearer the day when such inter-Empire communications will be a commonplace of every-day life.

The programme was opened punctually at 9.30 p.m. (New Zealand time) with the playing of the National Anthem by the Australian Broadcasting Conwrssion’s orchestra, at Sydney. An introductory description of the broadcast was followed by a roll-call of national stations a.nd outposts of the southern (seas of the Pacific. The Prime Minister of Australia (the Hon. J. A. Lyons) gave .a brie.f address on the world significance of Empire Day.

A SCIENTIFIC MARVEL.” Sir Hugh Deni s on, chairman of’ the •Empire Society’s dinner ■ at. Sydney, spoke of the scientific marvel at which, they were all assisting. Through .the wonders of radio all 'the .countries of the ’Empire were indeed a great family; that (night, He paid .a tribute to all who had helped in Australia and New Zealand towards making such an historical function .possible, “To-night we speak with on© voice,’’ •added gif Hugh. “A glance at the llldp will impress everyone with the vastness of the Empire flttd its great potentialities, till ' united under p. one flag and 'one sovereign.'V. Mr A. E. Flower, chairman -of the Christchurch branch of the Empire Society, then proposed the toast of his- Alajesty the King. “The high privilege.,and honour of proposing the toast of his Gracious Majesty, King Georgy V., ba® fallen to my lot as the chairman of the oldest New Zealand branch of the Royal Empire Society,” said (Mr Flower. “I . would ask all those citi(zeibs of the British Empire who are vtjthin the (range of this broadcast to stand .and join in this expression of loyalty to the throne and to the person of his Majesty.”

The toast was honoured with the playing of the National Anthem by the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s orchestra.

THE GOVERNORS-GEXERAL Proposing the ■ toast of ‘The G°v-ernons-General” from Sydney, the president of the New South Wales branch of the society, Sir Hugh Denison, spoke of the Crown -as the symbol of nationhood. “Whatever our religions a n d the icolour of our skins,” -he said, “we fire to-vlay one people linked with the Empire by our loyalty to the Crown. The personal representatives of his Majesty express not only our loyalty to the King, but have in them the safeguard of the privilege,* of justice and individual liberty that ha.ve been secured by our forefathers through past centuries.” After referring to the work of the Australian-born Governor, Sir Isaac (Isaacs, Sir Hugh continued; “Of Lord Bledisloe it is sufficient to say that his selection also followed a life marked by long pifblic service, particularly connected with agriculture and food supply in th e United Kingdom. ‘He brought to New Zealand a ripe experience of Parliamentary practice and primary production. He has visited all parts of the country—even the most remote—and made contact with all classes of the community, whatever their colour, religion, or creed. The Great War consolidated the loyalty lof the people of Australia and New Zealand when they pledged their support to the Mother Country to their last man .and their last shilling, ana

the Unknown Warrior is a common monument to all the .sailors .and soldier* who fell in defence of their country. , That same lovnffy vo desire u> precKand we do it to-night, coupled with orr loyal recognition of hV; Majesty’s .representatives in the southern Dominions.” The to. n st was supported by Mr Flower (Christchurch) and received with musical honours. EARL JELLICOE SPEAKS. The next address was by Earl j Jollicoe, who spoke, from London, 11,000

miles 'from the centre of the .broadenfit. Unfortunately, his worths were indistinct.

The first response to the toast was made 'by Sir Isaac Isaacs, GovernorGeneral of Australia. Australia and New Zealand, he said, were bound

together in the sacred name of Anz.ac For the kindly remarks concerning him self he was extremely grateful.

‘‘To all of th e great Empire family,” -he continued, ‘‘Australia sends cordial greetings, earnest wishes for prosperity and happiness, felicitations in sharing the priceless privilege of our wonderful associations. . .To the whole world we -proclaim Australia’s

allegiance.” Although it was delivered from Rotorua, Lord Bledisloe’s reply was indistinct, and very few words -could b e heard. ‘‘The burning need of the day is solidarity among the nations, and particularly among those peoples under the Union Jack,” declared the Gov-ernor-General of New Zealand, Lord Bledhslce. He said that the ideals of British justice had been a great force for good in the world, and were even mere necessary to the trying times of the present.

Hie donetuded by thanking the speakers in Australia and New Zealand for their kind remarks. “There are no more lovable people in the world than in this Dominion, whose ,intense loyalty to the Mother Country is recognised throughout the Empire,” he said,

Alinollnfcdments concerning the broadcast and messages from outlying islands were then read by the announcer. The toast of “The State Governors” whs proposed by the president of the Victorian branch of the Royal Empire Society (Sir Janies Barrett) and replied to by hi.-j Excellency, Sir William Irvine, Lieuten-ant-Governor of Victoria. “THE VOICE OF ROYALTY.” “Through the magic of the radio telephone service you will once again hear the voice of Royalty,” said the Sydney announcer, in introducing H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, president of the Royal Empire -Society in London. Unfortunately surging interfered with reception of ' his Highness’ -brief address.

The toast “United Empire” was proposed in Canada by Sir Henry Grey, president' of the Montreal branch of the Royal Empire Society. He staid that the broadcast was an histories occasion, and he assured listeners injthe southern hemisphere of the deep and sincere affection and good wishes of every section of the community in Canada. The linking up, of tips,, .widespread components of the Empire, he said, carried him back to the early cbys of the Great War, when the loyalty and devotion of the Dominions was so strikingly demonstrated.

The toast was supported by the Hon. (Sir Afchdale Pilrkhill, PcstmastdrGfeneral of Australia, who Said that the trouble through which the world had passed in the last year years had been responsible for the British Empire taking the lead in many remarkable "movements. The triumphs of Locarno arid Lausanne had been due to British statesmanship, and no one h'sd taken more honourable parts than Sir Austen 'Chamberlain and Mr Ramsay MacDonald. Britain’s attitude to ft.s mandates h’Jd never been surpassed by any other country for nobility and, unselfishness. MESSAGE FROM MR FORBES. Messages of congratulation were read from the Governor-General of South Africa (Lord Claredon) and the Viceroy of India (Lord Willington). Tiie Prime Minister of New Zealand (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) sent a special message from the Rangitata, in mid-Pacific, commending the celebration, extending his warmest praise to the organisers, and stressing the elefed 'relationship between Australia

and New Zealand. Other messages were received from Montreal, Rhodesia, New Guinea, several islands of the Pacific, and other far-distant posts. Mr C. Lloyd-Jones, chairman of

the Australian Broadcasting Commission, commended the “Empire gesture” that they had achieved. The bonds of Ottawa were very real and the broadcast was helping to weld them more firmly. The chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation ('the (Rt. Hon. J. H. Whitley) then spoke from London. He discussed the Empire service which the corporation had lately undertaken, and emphasised its value in preserving the unity of the Empire. A great volume of correspondence was being received from all countries, .and (this was (a great encouragement. Before long .they hoped to have interchanges of programmes between London and the Dominions as a regular feature of Empire broadcasts. “T give my good wishes to you all, arid thank the Empire (Society for its co-operation,” concluded Mr Whitley.

Tlio chairman of the Adelaide branch of the Royal Empire Society. (Sir Josiah Synion) proposed the toast of “Workers in ,the Einpirehs Clause.” The toast wars supported hy I)r. W. N. Robertson, president of the Queensland branch of the society, and Mr A. G. Feme, president of the Tasmanian branch.

“It is said that the bonds of Empire are invisible, arid you have bad. a demn’Yitrathn this evening of +ho new kind of bond that is linking the Dominions more and more closely, said Mr E. T. Fisk, chairman of Am-nJe-a,mated IWireless (lAustraJlasia), Ltd., who responded to the toast. The programme concluded with a cantata, “Southern Seas,” for solo, choir, and orchestra, cWuposdd f°>‘ the occasion land conducted by Mr Alfred Hill, and the National Antlipm by the combined choirs and orchestra.