PARROT THAT SWORE

Shannon News, 8 June 1928, Page 2

PARROT THAT SWORE

BROADCASTING INCIDENT.

SHOCK FOR LISTENERS-IN.

SYDNEY, May 10.

Mr Rupert Cooke, a one-time pi'ominent Canterbury footballer in New Zealand, now keevjr of the Beaconsfield Hotel at St. K.'kla, Melbourne, was unwittingly associated last Sunday afternoon, with one of the most unfortunate, as well as one of the most amusing contretemps in the history of bicadcasting in Australia. "A talking cockatoo was put upon the air, and the bird so forgot himself that he uttered a string of oaths that shocked even those listeners who are used to hearing the language of some Australians. Mr Cooke is the owner of the. bird, and it is only fair to say here and now, that his connection with the incident ended there. ■ Fortunately it was an amateur who tried the experiment—an experiment-he is not likely to repeat in a hurry. He has a large circle who listen to his programme, and to these people he has been full of apologies. Mr Cooke aiforwards explained that the cockatoo usually behaved very well, and was roused to utter oaths only when tormented. The -bird is quite a local identity, and usuaily had a place in the bar, and Mr Cooke naively suggest-, ed that he might have learned the oaths fiom the men who frequented the bar. It was for this reason that the bird was sent away from the hotel, and it was then that the amateur broadcaster heard him and was impressed with the idea of a broadcast.

"The bird impressed me as being the most wonderful talking cockatoo 1 had ever heard," the amateur said. "The intonation of his voice was remarkedly human, imd I thought it would be a good idea to test it on the wireless. I hoped that the bird Avould behave itself, seeing that it waa .Sunday, but I should explain that up to then I had Dever heard him Swear. We commenced about 2.15 o'clock. . With irk first oath Mr Cooke grabbed the bird by the throat. He became, quiet and w r e started again, hoping that the firs* explexitive was only a slip. He offended again, twice, and finally it became necessary for me to make a. very loud noise into the microphone,' while Mr Cooke closed down the cockatoo by 1 force. Unfortunately the test was too good. The clarity was such that I have already received reports from 50 people saying that they heard distinctly every word the bird uttered. That is unfortunate."

The bird is 28 .years old and has gathered a remarkable vocabulary, as the incident here recorded would indicate. Mr. Cooke says he is just like a human being and there seems to be some justification in her remark. Meanwhile the bird is the subject of an official inquiry in which the chief inspector of broadcasting is the most interested person. As a complete apology was made over the air it is not likely that any further action will be taken against the broadcaster.