THE RECEPTION IN CHRISTCHURCH

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 18, 18 November 1927, Unnumbered Page

THE RECEPTION IN CHRISTCHURCH

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. Crystal set users in Christchurch listened in on Friday night and early on Saturday morning to music and voices broadcast from England, It was an epoch-imaking occasion. ‘To station 83YA has fallen the honour of having been the first to rebroadcast an English station and to permit people in New Zealand to listen-in to happenings halfway round the world, Those who were privileged to listenin were elated. Many a "humble crystal set"? owner must have stared agape when he realised that what he was hearing was being said in old England. It was an achievement that makes a crystal set no longer a "humble crystal set." It stands exalted now. It has heard London calling. It heard the morning service in Canterbury Cathedral, the congregation singing, the Archbishop preaching, even the two minutes’ silence, then the impressive "Yast Post," further singing, the chanting of the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a lengthy prayer, the singing of ‘God Save the King," and the pronouncing of the Benediction. It was wonderful, and listeners who

sat up late were well rewarded. As the rebroadcast proceeded reception improved. ‘The volume was always good, but it became clearer, The broadcast commenced at 10.45 a.m., Muglish time, corresponding with 11,15 p.m., New Zealand summer time. Good as this fest had been, the best was to comie. It was rot the organ recital in St. Mary le Bow Church, wonderful as it was to hear the pealing notes of the organ. The best portion of the test was a ten minutes’ speech which reached New Zealand about 1.30 a.m, ‘The speaker was the head of the broadcasting in Britain. From his introductory remarks; "Tt is the director-general of the British Broadcasting Corporation speaking," until the announcer closed down, practically every word was intelligible. The director-general, Sir J. Keith, sent a greeting to Britons overseas, in every part of the world. A fine Armistice Day sentiment expressed revulsion against war and the view that in the British Commonwealth of Nations there was promise that the world would yet be redeemed from the shadow of war. and he believed that wireless would help immensely. The British Broadcasting Company had a motto, ‘Nation shall talk with nation.’’ Radio had no frontier, no boundaries, no politics, Sir J. Keith said it was thrilling to have heard the recent broadcast from Australia, but it could have been nothing to the thrill which a crystal set user in Christchurch experienced wheu he heard 5SW, Chelmford, England. Great hopes were entertainea hat the speech which the Prince of Wales was to deliver in the Albert Hall, London, would be heard in New Zealand, but this portion of the test failed, ‘The broadcast was picked up, but not sufliciently strong to be rebroadcast, and as the day waxed the power waned till it disappeared completely. APPRECIATION OF BROADCAST, G.C.H., Masterton: I would like to express appreciation of the action of the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand in rebroadcasting from 8YA the initial official broadcast of the Chelmsford (Eng.) short-wave station 5SW, who were relaying from Canterbury Cathedral a special Armistice Day anniversary service, and later an orgatt recital from St. Mary’s, London, The Broadcasting Company also deserve great credit for the very successful manner in which the rebroadcast was effected, and I am sure all who listened to 8YA last evening and early this morning will endorse these’ remarks. This transmission marks a new era in radio broadcasting, and after such very satisfactory results being obtained it is to be hoped that the company will continue to rebroadcast 65SW whenever possible for the benefit of those listeners not possessing short-wave receiving sets The company can rest assured that very few listeners would not take advantage of the opportunity of listen ing to rebroadcasts of this nature.