New Zealand Cricketers broadcast Reports on Test from London

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 4, 7 August 1931, Page 1

New Zealand Cricketers broadcast Reports on Test from London

AST week listeners to all our YA stations heard something entirely new and thrilling in broadcasting. Commencing at approximately 7 o'clock on each the mornings of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the four YA ‘4ions broadcast the attempts at two-way conversations between Wellington and London. Although conditions were not all that could be desired a large measure of success. attended the attempts of the Post and Telegraph Department and the Broadcasting Company. Listeners were able to hear on two mornings a description of the day’s play as broadcast from the Grand Central Hotel, London, by members of both cricket teams. On two mornings, listeners heard the talk between Wellington and London prior to the relaying from the hotel. The results obtained are certainly encouraging and lead one to believe that there are great possibilities in this means of communication. The first morning’s transmission was not at all satisfactory, due to the weather conditions. The morning prior to the first ‘broadcast the results were quite good. But Thursday the channel: was so bad that it was impossible to broadcast any of the conversation from the

London end. Once or twice, listeners heard the operators make contact with the Old Country, . apart from "London calling. Is that Wellington?" and the replies from Wellington there was little to be heard.

T the 2YA studio were Mr. P. B. Broad, chairman of the Wellington Cricket Asso- . ciation, who hoped to be able to speak with the cricketers in London. Also present was Mr. J. Smith, head of the Post and Telegraph Laboratory. Mr. Smith did most of the talking from the Wellington end. From the little that was picked up, it was possible to build up a a summary. Mr. Gilligan, speaking from (Concluded on page 29.)

Test Cricket Broadcast

(Continued from page 1.) London, referred to. the splendid reputation of the New Zealand team at Home and to their very fine performance in the field during the play that day. The wicket was slow and easy, and in a very sporting way said that the run of luck had been with the Englishmen. When the attempts at two-way communication were not going over, music was played from the 2YA studio. ‘HOR the second day, the technicians requested that the relay line should be kept in circuit all the time; consequently arrangements were made for Mr. Ball to speak continuously in case the transmission came through at any moment. Accordingly Mr. Ball prepared a very complete summary of the relationships in cricket between Britain and New Zealand, and in the course of this talk, which lasted for over &n hour, gave a very complete review. Conditions, however, were very much better than they had been on the previous morning, and while conversation was strictly imited, it was possible to hear the remarks that were being made from London. The first speaker was Mr. A. T. Donnelly, chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council, who introduced Mr. Gilligan. He comment#€d on the consideration the lWJnglish ‘Cricket Council had shown in arranging for the extra Test matches at greut inconvenience to themselves. The New Zealanders had _ received every hospitality throughout the tour. Mr. Gilligan said that the second day’s play had been most interesting. He then spoke of the outstanding features of the day, and also of the coming tour of the Australian team next season. New Zealand had recovered well, for conditions were against a big score. The New Zealand captain, Mr. T. C. Lowry, said that in losing the toss, he had failed in one of the duties of ‘a captain and consequently the Kuglish had the better of the wicket. They still hoped to save the match on the morrow. Mr. A. P. F. Chapman recalled the’ English team’s visit to New Zealand, and sent the best wishes of his wife

(formerly of New Zealand) and himself to triends in this country. He said there was talk of an M.O.OC, tour to New Zealand two years hence, and it was greatly hoped that it would eventuate. ‘Ihe New Zealanders were making a golden name for themselves. It was hard luck that Dempster could not play, and the English were disappointed. He could not refer to Lowry’s play because he was one of the family, but he had his own ideas about that. Mr. D. R. Jardine, captain of the English team, commenting on the play, said that Lowry had played one of the finest innings seen at the oval for many, many years. OR the third day, the technicians thought that a quarter of an hour’s continuous contact with the relay lines would be satisfactory and that the studio could transmit musie until London came through. Accordingly arrangements wert made for Mr. Broau (of the Cricket Council) to give a history of ‘Lest matches between both Wngland and Australia as well as New Zealand. Mr. Broad spoke interestingly for some 25 minutes, after which music was transmitted up till 8 o’clock, when London came with the greatest success yet achieved. London was heard to great advantage for something over 20 minutes, but London could not receive New Zealand. However, the transmission was almost brilliantly successful from London, and New Zealand listeners were given a _ rare treat. There were present in the studio Mrs. Dempster and Mrs. James, who both had the pleasure of hearing their sons speak frum London. A few minutes after eight o’clock the London exchange announced that connection had been made with the Grand Central Hotel, and shortly afterward Mr. A. H. H. Gilligan commenced his summary. The New Zealanders, he said, had done their best to save the match, but the luck had not been with them, The crowd was treated to‘a bril-. liant display by Vivian and Blunt. The spectators were very thrilled by his exhibition. The wicket had never. been easy for play all the way. Had Lowry won the toss the result of the match might have been altogether different. Gilligan congratulated the New Zealand captain on the way he had handled his side, and said that English cricketers and critics had

formed a very high opinion of the team’s capabilities. Mr. R,. C. Blunt was the next speaker. He said that the performance of the team had given the greatest satisfaction to the players themselves, as they had been up against a very hard side. Mr. ©. S. Dempster said that he was very disappointed to have been out of the match. He had spent two days in bed, but his heart had been with the New Zealand team. Fortunately, he had practically recovered "from his injury, and he hoped to be able to play next Wednesday and in the third Test. Mr. K. ©. James also spoke. Mr. Cecil Wray, the New Zealand Rugby Union’s representative in England, said that New Zealanders at Home were very delighted with the New Zealand team and their play in the Test. They had been given a wonderful reception wherever they had gone, Football was not on the map just at present, but he expected that the Dominion would receive the amended rules soon, and thought they would proyide some very ‘ interesting discussion among Rugby people in New Zealand. Atmospheric conditions became unfavourable toward the end of the proadecast, and two-way conversation was again out of the question.