HIS MOTHER’S VOICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 742, 15 August 1929, Page 9

HIS MOTHER’S VOICE

INJURED BOY IN SYDNEY HEARS FROM HOME BY RADIO FROM BRITAIN Reed. 9.5 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. Jack Sigrist, aged IS, an apprentice In the Cunard liner, fell down the hold of the Valacia a month ago, since when he has been lying at death’s door in the Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, making pathetic appeals for his mother, who resides at Cosport, England. Yesterday the mother was able to speak direct with the hospital nursing sister here concerning her son’s condition, as a result of the intervention of the “Daily Express,” London, which had induced the radio section of the British Post Office to place its entire radio resources at the disposal of Mrs. Sigrist, who conducted a trunk-call conversation for ten minutes, when she learned that her son had had a good day. The conversation was quite audible and created a profound impression in the hospital.

During the evening special arrangements were made to -enable Jack to talk direct with his mother 12,000 miles away. The wires were taken right into the ward and the boy greeted his mother most affectionately. She said a few comforting words to him, which the doctors think will greatly assist in his recovery.

The conversation was overheard by Mr. R. Tindall, of Northcote, who has also heard IME Sydney and GBX London, short-wave stations? conversing during the past fortnight.

AN ISOLATED SUCCESS

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 10.40 a.m. LONDON, Wed. Post Office experts, questioned on yesterday’s England-to-Australia telephoning experiment, in which Jack Sigrist spoke to his mother, emphasise that while it is interesting, it must not be regarded with any scientific significance. Such isolated successes are frequently inconclusive.