DUTCH RADIO IN ECLIPSE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 49, 31 May 1940, Page 37

DUTCH RADIO IN ECLIPSE

"Happiness Station's" Tragic Silence

(By

J. D.

W.

NCE again throughout Europe, © the lights, one by one, have gone out. To the lamps of culture and idealism visualised by Sir Edward Grey on the eve of that other world conflict have been added scores. vf others--the "radio, ‘transmitting tubes of small States which had continued to hold to the hope that "Nation Shall Speak Peace’ Unto Nation." Prague’s OLR station. early lost its individuality; Warsaw’s SPW met a more violent .end; and now yielding to the relentlessness of war, the most famous of them. all-" PCJ, The Happiness Station" of the Netherlands -has apparently signed off for what is likely to be a long time. Millions of listeners the world over will regret its passing. Holland Led the World It was a pun in the early days of radio that Holland was a land of bulbs, not the least of whith were those of its transmitters. Lorig before the polygot assemblage of Nazi shortwave stations was even thought of, Holland had led the way in_ shortwave broadcasting, through the old PCJJ. station at Eindhoven that was later!to:be PCJ. As far back as 1927 it established, the friendly alliance with -England which -was enhanced in the intervening years by letting the Empire-and the world-hear for the first time the chimes of Big Ben. On March 11 of. that year the kindly Dutch marked an‘ epoch in broadcasting by this notable feat, which was followed by the ‘regular re-broadcast of English, French and German progtammes. How novel were these feats is reflected in the comment of the London "Wireless World" of the time: "It will be of interest to listeners whether this, example set by Holland will be followed by other countries in Europe. Personally, we should be sorry to see stations established in this country to work on wavelengths of that order (31.28 metres) unless ample notice were given, for the reason that comparatively few sets in the hands ofthe public would be capable of listening. to the -transmissions. The only application which we can see at the moment for a shortwave broadcasting station in this country/;would be for the purpose of overseas "communication." «+ Five years ‘and eight months later, at Christmas, -1932, -the-. Empire. was linked in that first, memorable roll-call. " Seven Language Announcer " | So long as PCJ is remembered millions will remember Edward Startz, " the seven language announcer,’ whose lingual ability was matched by the charm and friendliness of his radio personality. It is only a matter of weeks since New

Zealanders heard his cheery greeting, but already it seems ‘like. years. "Hands across the borders" was his favourite greeting, and transparent Sincerity. his hallmark. Across many a border he was regarded as a personal friend. How many New Zealanders remember afternoons brightened by the cheerful singing of Dutch birds through the windows of the studios at Eindhoven when Startz opened his window? Even though it was a cold and rainy morning in Holland those feathered songsters carried their message "across the fence" to. the world. The " PA" Fellowship How many: amateur operators in Holland have signed off and pulled the switch for the last time in the past few weeks? Doubtless among the fallen are many of those whose voices became familiar on the 20 m. band. There were about 500 of them altogether, good fellows all, who shared in the world comradeship of radio amateurs.. Nominally: their power was limited to 50 watts, "which only means that when they should happen.-to inspect it we can work with 50 watts. Hi!" Thus the comment of one of the most prominent of them — PAO(zero)MQ (P.C. Vis)-in a letter some little time ago. This is (or was?) typical of the able and friendly Dutch. If he still lives, he is 31 years of age, and he may still be the director of a company producing all kinds of perfumery, soaps, toothpastes, and so-on. He started his amateur career in 1918, when he heard his first transmitted music; and had his first transmitter in 1926-before he went to college. Dictated by circumstance, he was something of a Startz, for Spanish, French, and English were alike of use to him. One feels justified in employing the past tense, for his postal address was Rotterdam, the famous old city in which such death and desolation aie been wrought. as So, in the meantime, PCJ, PHI, PAOMQ, and the hundreds: of other amateurs of the Netherlands exist no more. We knew these fellows; some ofthem spoke to. us; many. of them were our friends. Let us hope they have not signed their final "qrt" but that, for the: great mnalority : it is only an aaron, of " cuagn."