"Paris" Speaking

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 8, 7 September 1928, Page 6

"Paris" Speaking

Broadcast of Signing of Peace Pact

HE signing of the Kellogg Peace Pact in Paris had its repercussions in radio circles in New Zealand. Great preparations had been made in Paris for the broadcasting of the speeches throughout all the countries of Europe and, in fact, over the world, for the occasion was looked upon | as an epoch-marking one, and an effort was made to endow it with ail the importance possible in the eyes of all peoples. As far as the British Empire was concerned, the short wave station 5SW, at Chelmsford, was connected by land and submarine cable to the very room in Paris where the treaty was signed. . Station 3YA went on the air to rebroadcast 5S W in the early hours of Tuesday morning, August 28, and the result was very interesting to all listeners who considered it worth while to lose their sleep for the opportunity of listening-in to Paris. With all its imperfections, owing to the adverse conditions, the rebroadcast was a remarkable achievementa relay from Paris to Chelmsford (the longest yet attempted by the British Broadcasting Corporation), a broadcast to the opposite side of the world, to be picked up on a receiving set, relayed again to the studio, and then broadcast again. At mid-day in Wellington, a ceremony commemorating the occasion of the signing was held in the Town Hall. It was largely attended, the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable J. G. Coates, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. Troup, members of Parliament, and. representatives of the churches being among those present. The speeches made at this function a broadcast by 2YA and rebroadcast by 3YA; the transmission being perfect. | "Aerial," of the Christchurch "Star," after describing his vigil in the "wee sma’ ’oors," heartily congratulates 8YA on its enterprise and achievement. He concludes his article: "It was well worth the sitting up for. It is not every day. one can hear such an event, and, even though the words were indistinct and one could only guess-and guess wildlyas to the identity of the speakers, that did not detract from the thrill of listening in on what may prove to be one of the most important events in the history of the world." : |