NOT AGAIN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 75, 19 November 1931, Page 6

NOT AGAIN

DR. PURDY'S SPEECH ADDRESS OYER STATION 2BL SHOCKS YOUTHFUL LISTENERS. ARMY EXPLETIVES. SYDNEY, Thursday. Listeners-in to a broadcast address on the Girl Guides and Boy Scout movement from Station 2BL during dinner hour last night, were surprised and amazed at language psed by the speaker, Dr. Purdy, Metropolitan Health Officer, says the Sydney Sun. The expletive so familiar to members of the A.I.F. was first used by the doetor, but immediately after was more forcibly used when prefaced by the word "bloody." So sudden was the outburst that

the words reverberated in suburban dining-rooms, causing family resentment from everyone who heard them. Interviewed to-day, Dr. Purdy admitted using the words, but said that he had gone beyond an actual quotation from Shakespeare. He says it was an historic fact that led him to use the word "bloody," and this fitted the description of King John. Children Use It.' ' He could see notlr'ng wrong with the word, for there was not a child above the age of 10 who had not heard it and used it. Dr. Purdy's reply to a question as to why he used the word was. "Most politicians gas their audience, but I decided to eleetrify mine.'' When Dr. Purdy was told that the adjectives had shocked his juvenilc audience, he rep'lied: "How could they be shocked? Why, these days young g:rls know more than their grandmothers." 2BL Regrets. Officials of the Australian Broadcasting Co. in a statement said: — "It is regretted that Dr. Purdy, vvho was speaking at the studio as an iccredited speaker on behalf of the Boy Scouts Association ,in such speech should use words which in the jpinion of the company should not be permitted on the air." "Immed'ately the words were used, Dr. Purdy's speech was cut off, and in future we regret that this gentleman will not be permitted to broadcast from the National station until some undertaking of a definite nature is given that words of this description will not be used again." Every Care. "The utmost care is exercised by che company's officials to see that noching gces on the air of which lisieners may object, and, naturally, any speaker on behalf of the Boy Scouts' Association should be loolced L'pon as undertakir.g not to offend in this direction. Didn't Shock Feminine Ears. When asked by a Sun representative about his speech before the Royal Empire Soc'ety, recently, and his use of the word "bloody," Dr. i'urdy was somewhat indignant that uis use of it should be questioned 'You use the word," he said, "and why shouldn't I? I do not remember using the word on the night in question, but if I did, what about it, and why not?" Amongst those present at the Royal Empire Society meeting were Lady V'cars and Dr. Grace Boelke. "Between the heat and suppressed 'aughter, I really did not mind the ioctor's frequent use of the great Australian. adjective," said Dr. Grace Boelke. "I heard Dr. Purdy, and the use of the word in question was not offensive to my ears," said Lady Vicars.