Calling the World

New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 445, 2 January 1948, Page 5

Calling the World

T is to be hoped that those who read the report on Page 8 of this issue will not read more into it than it is intended to convey. New Zealand is not yet calling the world on its own shortwave transmitters, and is not yet about to. call the whole world. It has however called a considerable portion of the world experiment- | ally, and the experiment has been | successful beyond expectations. : Now it is preparing to call the Pacific area regularly, beginning with Australia and its own dependencies: In other words, the technical problems involved have been overcome and the cultural problem begins. Or to put it another way: we now can talk to the world outside and must make up our minds what we want to say. It is the fundamental problem of broadcasting everywhere, and will not be easier for New Zealand than for other countries. But there is no reason why, if we are modest and sensible, it should be insuperably difficult. It would not be sensible to use our new powers to say things that other countries can say more effectively; to echo other countries; or to indulge in cheap advertisement. Those are all real dangers which it will require constant vigilance to avoid. But there is danger, too, in timidity and false modesty. We have a story of our own to tell, a picture of our own to present to the world, and the world will be interested in it as long as we present it honestly. We shall not make friends if we preach or serve up propaganda, but no country has a smaller need to do that. We are a British community working out our own destiny in physical but no longer spiritual isolation. We shall always have something to tell if we learn how to tell it.