MR. F. W. PLATTS’S MESSAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 711, 10 July 1929, Page 16

MR. F. W. PLATTS’S MESSAGE

A very interesting account of a modern “Island Night's Entertainment’* has been received by the Broadcasting Company from Captain Campbell, of Rarotonga. He gives a graphic description of a large gathering of native chiefs, sitting in a palm grove in the brilliant moonlight of a tropic night, listening to a programme broadcast by IYA, Auckland. The feature of the programme was a talk given by Mr. F. W. Platts, C.M.G., late Commissioner for the Cook Islands, and now magistrate at Hamilton. The natives knew that Mr. Platts was far overseas, yet his voice, which they knew well, -was heard clearly and distinctly. This caused greater wonderment than did the actual musical items. The realism of the occasion was further heightened by Captain Campbell hanging a large photograph of Mr. Platts above the loud-speaker. The concert was broadcast on Satur- ! day, June 8 (Friday in Rarotonga), i the suggestion for a special concert having come from Captain Campbell, who also suggested that Mr. Platts, beloved in the Islands, should be asked to send greetings to the native chiefs. This Mr. Platts kindly consented to do, and journeyed from Hamilton to Auckland for the purpose. Captain Campbell’s letter reads as follows: Turoa, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, June 19, 1929. On behalf of the native chiefs of Rarotonga who were present at the reception of the broadcast from IYA on the evening of June-8, I wish to thank your company for the excellent programme arranged for our entertainment, and particularly to thank you for giving us all an opportunity to hear again the late Commissioner of these Islands, Mr. F. W. Platts, C.M.G. On receipt of your radio advising mo that Mr. Platts had consented to speak from IYA, I erected my set in one of the large village houses and tested it out on the evening of June 7, hoping that it would be possible to allow a number of the natives in addition to the chiefs to be present, but unfortunately static, combined with rain on the iron roof, completely marred reception, and it seemed probable that it would be very unlikely that even a portion of Mr. Platts’s talk would be audible. The following day I erected the set in a large native “Are” of my own. These are native huts made of thin sticks tied with bark fibre and roofed with rau thatch. At 7 p.m., our time, Friday evening (5.10 p.m. Saturday N.Z.), the first of the chiefs began to arrive by car, in most cases motoring 10 miles from the principal village. The invitation said 9.45, but they did not intend to be late. You can amigane the scene; a beautiful clear tropic night with the moon shining like silver on the coconut palms. The “are” is situated right in the bush surrounded by coconut trees, on the top of two of which the aerial is mounted. As each car or motor-truck arrived with their parties of men—most of whom were well past middle age—for a few moments the lights of the car lamps brought into prominence the stems of the coconuts like the pillars of some gigantic temple. Then as they were switched off, there was black darkness for a few moments until the eyes grew accustomed to the change. There were hand-shakes and “Kia Orana kotu” greetings. Then they went off into the “are,** more gretings, and all sat down to listen to the “apinga Ou” (the new thing). When the set was switched on the static had completely gone, and there was not the slightest fading. We got Chicago, three stations in Sydney, two in Melbourne, Hobart, and sqm© of the market reports from Christchurch, the price of oranges and bananas from the Cook Islands as quoted on the market being shillings above the returns that they received here, as usual. Then we brought in Auckland, and they heard for the first time from the announcer that a special programme had been arranged for the benefit of the South Sea Islands, and that Mr. Platts was to speak at nine o’clock New Zealand time. I had a clock set at New Zealand time, and it surprised them to see the difference in the two clocks, and to know that it was Saturday night in New Zealand. Of course, some of them had been to New Zealand to meet the Duke of York, but it required radio to bring the difference right home. As the first Maori song and the various Hawaiian items came through with full speaker volume they were delighted, but slightly inclined to regard it as very much like a gramophone. At last came 9 o’clock. Then the announcer gave out the weather report. One could almost feel the disappointment; they were sure Mr. Platts was not going to speak, but no one made a sound; then came his greetings, beginning. “Kia Orana ki Tinomana Ariki, etc.,” just at nine, I had hung a photograph of Mr. Platts above the machine, and every eye was lit up and fixed on the photograph. As he went on they leaned nearer and nearer to the machine. When he finished there was not a word until well into the next item, and then I am afraid they did not hear much of it. Those who could understand English explained to those who could not, and I was asked to send you a radio first thing to give you our thanks. This I did. It should decode, “Delighted, reception perfect, express our thanks,” and we hope you have done this to the staff of IYA also. The chiefs listened to every item with a new interest, and when the special “good night” came, followed on by the National Anthem, they all stood up and the native pastor, on behalf of all, expressed thanks for the opportunity of seeing and hearing another of the marvellous works of the whit e man. It was nearly 1 a.m. as the last car moved off into the darkness, not to seek their beds, but to spread the news from end to end of the Island that they had heard Mr. Platts speak the same as if he stood before them. In the Resident Agent’s house at Mangaia Island a group of Europeans listened to Mr. Platts's greeting. At Rarotonga I was the only European present, and it was an experience I will remember for ever with delight.