Radio Postman

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 655, 6 May 1929, Page 14

Radio Postman

Relatives Talk to By id Expedition SUNDAY AFTERNOON "MAIL” The sound of the postman’s -whistle is not heard each morning in the Antarctic by members of the Byrd expedition, but their receive their "mail” regularly every Sunday afternoon from the radio postman. In pre-radio days Scott and other famous explorers were hidden away for months without being in touch with the outer world. Kings could die, and wars could be waged, without news of any kind arriving to break the monotony of the Antarctic. With the advent of radio, however, all is changed, and the Byrd expedition is nearly as much in touch w: affairs of the world as the city man who reads his newspaper. Every Sunday afternoon the American short-wave radio stations KDKA, Pittsburg, and WGY, Schnectady, New York, are on the air specially to entertain the Byrd expedition, and to keep the members of it supplied with news. Gathered round the radio set in the far south, individual members of the expedition hear the actual voices of friends and rela'-.ves in their home country. Messages are also read by the announcers at both stations. They are given the latest general and sporting news, and entertained with music. LOVE FROM WIFE The announcer calls for John Smith, and says that his wife is keeping well, and sends her love. She wishes to let him know she has moved into a new house, which has a beautiful view of Parkway. She hopes he is keeping well, and that he is not finding it hard to keep his hands in his pockets. Tom Brown is called next, and told, that his son is getting a big boy now, and that his great ambition is to drive j the automobile. Several others are called, and given similar intimate little messages, and] acknowledgments are made of radio-, grams received from the Antarctic, At the conclusion of the broadcast] of messages from WGY yesterday afternoon, the announcer said that the, station wished to add its best wishes to those already sent, and to express a hope for the expedition’s safe and ‘ speedy return.