ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND BROADCASTING SERVICE FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1946 Session I, F-03

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1946 NEW ZEALAND

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND BROADCASTING SERVICE FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1946

Presented, to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the provisions of the Broadcasting Act, 1936

REPORT I have the honour to submit the annual report on the operations of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service for the year ended 31st March, 1946, in accordance with the provisions of section 18 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, 1936. Until hostilities ceased great demands continued to be made on the Service in connection with the war effort. Listeners were kept accurately and*" promptly informed as to the progress of the war by news bulletins, commentaries, and talks, and war-effort campaigns and appeals were assisted by special programmes and publicity. Talks and, messages recorded by New Zealand servicemen in both the European and Pacific theatres of war provided a link with our Forces overseas. When war ended time became available for more normal programmes, and the return of staff from service with the Armed Forces made it possible to re-introduce some of the features of pre-war programmes, A programme analysis of the total transmitting-time. of the fourteen stations of the national network for. the week ended 31st March, 1946, shows that the time was occupied as follows := — Serious music, 19-3 per cent. Light music, 46-3 per cent. Modern dance music, 5-7 per cent. Plays, sketches, and dramatic serials, 6 per cent. Sporting commentaries, 4-7 per cent. Talks: general and educative, 4-7 per cent, (including scnools broadcasts). News and commentaries, 8-2 per cent. Church and devotional services, 2-3 per cent. Children's sessions, 2-8 per cent. The separate policies of the National and Commercial stations have been continued. Wherever practicable activities have been co-ordinated, but further

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progress in the amalgamation of the two divisions of the Service will not be. possible until adequate accommodation is obtained not only in Wellington, but at all centres where National and Commercial stations operate. In Wellington the various sections of the Service are spread throughout the city in seven different buildings, thus greatly accentuating the difficulties of administration. The return of staff from service with the Forces has intensified the severe handicap under which the Service operates in regard to accommodation. None of the studio premises in Wellington has been constructed primarily for broadcasting, and in consequence they have many acoustical limitations. Reserve funds were accumulated during the war for the provision of adequate buildings and other facilities. Many demands are being made, however, on the building resources of the country, and the claims of the Service must take their place with those of other sections of the community. Based on the present cost of building, plant, and equipment, it is estimated that the expansion programme to be undertaken by the Service will involve a greater expenditure than can be met by the present reserve fund. Broadcasting House in Wellington has yet to be completed, and new buildings are required in other centres, including a transmitter building in Christchurch. Practically all existing plant is obsolete and requires replacement, while some stations are to be provided with more powerful transmitters. The plan for improvement in coverage includes proposals for additional stations which, will give a three- to four-hour service daily in certain districts, and the installation of relay lines for the rebroadcasting of first-class programmes in different parts of the Dominion. It is intended also to provide alternative programmes from transmitters at least equal in power to those at present operating in the four main centres. at present broadcasting for only part of the day are to have their hours increased when possible. The hours of broadcasting at Greymouth, Invercargill, and Napier have already been increased, those at Greymouth now being 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Mondays to Saturdays) and 8.45 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Sundays). Broadcasting hours at these stations will be extended still further when conditions permit. At the request of the authorities responsible for electric-power conservation broadcasting was reduced at peak hours to conserve power. Silent periods were observed daily, except Saturdays and Sundays, as follows: 8.10 a,m. to 8.40 a.m.: From 3rd April, 1945, to 28th October, 1945. 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.: From Ist May, -1945, to 28th October, 1945. 11.30 a.m. to 12 noon: From Ist May, 1945, to 31st March, 1946. 5.00 p.m. to 5.15 p.m.: From 2nd July, *1945, to 28th October, 1945. 5.15 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.: From Ist April, 1945, to 28th October, 1946. 5.30 p.m. to 5.45 p.m.: From Ist April, 1945, to 31st March, 1946. 5.45 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.: From 2nd July, 1945, to 31st March, 1946. The power saved at the transmitters is not great, but the aggregate economy if all receiving-sets are switched off is comparatively substantial. Broadcast appeals for the conservation of electricity have been followed by noticeable drops in power consumption. The restriction of two and a half hours daily represents an approximate reduction of 25 per cent, in broadcasting hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., when the peak loads occur. Broadcasting and the War.—Still wider use was made of broadcasting as a means of stimulating the national war effort. Campaigns covered by broadcast publicity included the Victory Loan, electricity conservation, stabilization, rehabilitation, increased primary production for the Forces in the Pacific, and UNRRA's clothing drive for Europe.

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Until the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific area, the monitoring of certain enemy stations was continued, and transcriptions of their broadcasts were supplied to the authorities concerned. News and Commentaries'. —The year under review is specially memorable for broadcasts recorded in this country of the closing stages of the war in Europe and Asia, culminating in the surrender of the enemy. Through broadcast news and commentaries, people were able to follow the invasion of Germany and the approach to Japan. On YE Day the Service was linked with the world, and our stations broadcast all through the night. Listeners heard the news of Germany's surrender, and commentaries on events in Britain, the dominions, and other Allied countries as soon as the news broke. The Eight Hon. Winston Churchill's broadcast announcing the cessation of hostilities in Europe was followed by that of the Eight Hon. W. Nash, Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Proclamation by His Excellency the Governor-General was heard later in the day, and there were broadcasts of Citizens' Thanksgiving Services and the playing of the Wellington Carillon. Later there followed His Majesty the King's message to his people, and the magnificent 8.8.C. special feature, " Salute to the King." The actual surrender to Field-Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery in Northern Germany was broadcast. Stations also remained on the air throughout the night following the news of the surrender of Japan, and broadcasts were mad.e of His Majesty's speech to the Empire, and addresses by the Eight Hon. C. E. Attlee and the Eight Hon. P. Fraser. The national ceremony of thanksgiving was relayed. Through the American Broadcasting System, listeners were able to hear what happened on the quarterdeck of U.S.S. " Missouri" when General Mac Arthur met the Japanese envoys and the terms of surrender were signed. On both YE and YJ Days the National and Commercial networks cancelled their scheduled programmes and substituted others specially appropriate to the occasion. When the news of the death of President Eoosevelt was received, programmes were interrupted to enable the news to be broadcast, and later a tribute was broadcast by the Eight Hon. W. Nash, Acting Prime Minister. Ceremonies in connection with the burial of the late President were also broadcast. Later, President Truman's address to Congress and his message to the United States Armed Forces were heard. Through the continued courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation news bulletins, commentaries and talks have been rebroadcast over the main National and Commercial networks. Towards the end of the year the number of regular rebroadcasts of London news was drastically curtailed. These now amount to five per day. The main National stations have continued rebroadcasting daily the 8.8.C. " Eadio Newsreel." By arrangement with the United States Office of War Information, the feature " American Commentary and News" was rebroadcast five nights a week from San Francisco by the main National stations. Australian news cabled daily by the Australian Broadcasting Commission was incorporated in the 9 p.m. newsreel. The N.B.S. Newsreel, which included news by courtesy of the daily newspapers, sports results, and market reports, continued to be broadcast. Special bulletins concerning the E.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific, supplied by the Air Department, were also included in the Newsreel. A weekly summary of overseas news in Maori by certain North Island stations was also broadcast. The broadcast each Wednesday night of an Australian commentary was inaugurated by the High Commissioner for Australia, the Hon. H. T. D'Alton. The New Zealand news broadcast at 9.30 each evening to the Pacific was transferred from Station 2YA to 2YC. Short-wave broadcasts of this news bulletin from the Post Office Station ZLT7 continued.

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Talks. —Notable amongst overseas rebroadcasts were His Majesty the King's messages to his people after the end of the European War and the surrender of Japan. His Majesty also broadcast to the Empire on Christmas Day, and to New Zealand and Australia on Anzac Day. British statesmen heard by New Zealand listeners included the Right Hon. C. R. Attlee, Prime Minister of Great Britain; Mr. Bevin, British Foreign Minister; and the Right Hon. Winston Churchill. A close watch was kept on talks broadcast from England and other countries. Among rebroadcasts from the 8.8.C. were many by New Zealanders serving overseas. When it was possible, relatives in New Zealand were advised of these broadcasts in advance. In New Zealand, His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall y and Her Excellency, Lady Newall, broadcast several times during the year. Subjects of national importance were dealt with in broadcasts by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. P. Eraser, the Right Hon. W. Nash, and other Cabinet Ministers, as well as Mr. S. G. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, and other citizens prominent in public life. The practice of broadcasting talks with a national appeal on Sunday evenings was continued, and many distinguished visitors contributed to these sessions. The number of visitors who spoke to New Zealand through the Service, either at official receptions or in special talks, or both, was the greatest in recent years. They included Lord Alanbrooke, Chief of the Imperial General Staff; Vice-Admiral Sir Philip Yian, Second in Command, British Pacific Fleet; Lieutenant-General Sir William Dobbie, formerly Governor of Malta; Sir Alexander Grantham, Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific; Lord Winster, British Minister of Commercial Aviation; Lord Knollys, Chairman of the British Overseas Airways Corporation; the Hon. A. S. Drakeford, Australian Minister of Civil Aviation; Sir Henry French, of the British Ministry of Food; Sir Cosmo Parkinson, of the Colonial Office; Captain Anthony Kimmins, 8.8.C. Naval Commentator; Sir Stanton Hicks, the eminent physiologist; Sir Angus Gillan, of the British Council; Dr. H. S. Canby, American man of letters; Mr. R. J. Bover, Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission; Sir Raghunath Paranjpe, High Commissioner for India in Australia; the Right Hon. W. J. Jordan, New Zealand High Commissioner-in London; the Bishop of Singapore, the Right Rev. J. L. Wilson; General Carpenter, of the Salvation Army, and Mrs. Carpenter; Mr. Robert Gibbings, famous Irish artist and author, and Miss Gracie Fields. The Service paid obituary tributes to leading figures abroad and at home, including the late President Roosevelt; Earl Lloyd George; Eleanor Rathbone, English Member of Parliament and Social Worker; Henry Handel Richardson, the novelist; Sir Charles Statham; Sir William Marris; and Frederick Wilding, K.C. Local talks of a general nature were curtailed by the emergencies of war and the transition period following the war. There were, however, a large number of special appeals and instructive talks designed to meet the needs of the hour. Overseus Rebroa-dcas'ts.—Many outstanding talks and commentaries from overseas stations were rebroadcast in New Zealand or recorded for future use. Among these were His Majesty the King's Christmas Day and Anzac Day messages, the Right Hon. Winston Churchill's address on his completion of five years as Prime Minister of Great Britain, and President Truman's speech at the closing of the United Nations Conference. The Right Hon. P. Fraser's speech at the Plenary Session of the United Nations Conference at San Francisco was rebroadcast, and listeners also heard Mr. S. G. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, speaking from the 8.8.C.

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The • election addresses broadcast by the 8.8.C. during the campaign preceding the British General Election were rebroadcast each night, and Station 2YA remained on the air on election night specially to cover the results. There were also many memorable broadcasts of events connected with the war, particularly from the invasion of Normandy to the surrender of Germany and of Japan. Broadcasting and the Forces.—With the generous co-operation of other broadcasting authorities our Unit in the Middle East continued to perform useful work, and talks and personal greetings from New Zealanders serving abroad were received and broadcast each week. Included in the programme, " "With the Boys Overseas" were 3,390 personal messages to relatives and friends. Of these messages,- 3,206 were from Italy, 105 from. India, and approximately 80 from Great Britain, Ceylon, and Japan. Messages from released prisoners of war in Singapore were also broadcast. These broadcasts constituted a very valuable service both to the prisoners' next-of-kin and the New Zealand authorities responsible for matters connected with prisoners-•oi-war. Thirty-three programmes of the feature " New Zealand Calling the Pacific" containing New Zealand items of entertainment and interest were prepared for broadcasting from Armed Forces Stations in the Pacific to New Zealanders. In conjunction with the Army Education and Welfare Service, arrangements are being made l to dispatch a Broadcasting Unit to Japan with the Occupation Force. The Service continued to co-operate with the Army Education and Welfare Service in providing music and entertainment for the Forces in New Zealand. Military camps were supplied with orchestral and vocal performances, variety concerts, and gramophone recitals. At the same time assistance was given to •camps in the development of their own talent. The Service is indebted-to the many artists and staff members who volunteered their services for this work. Music. —As in past years, lovers of serious music were provided with a wide and varied selection of programmes, live and recorded, in which was presented work of the world's most famous composers and artists. A total of 2,651 broadcasts were made by local artists, and there were 691 recitals by local musical societies, choirs, and bands. There were 68 broadcasts of complete grand operas from recordings. During the year arrangements were made with the copyright-holders to resume broadcasts of Gilbert and Sullivan operas, which proved very popular with listeners. The United States Office of War Information continued to supply programmes of outstanding interest, and made it possible to present such features as " Music by Contemporary Composers " from the various stations. Among overseas artists who broadcast in New Zealand were Raymond Beatty, Isador Goodman, Dorothy Helmrich, Frank Hutchens, and Lindley Evans. Pnina Salzman was heard as guest pianist with the augmented N.Z.B.S. Orchestra, conducted by Andersen Tyrer. Margherita Zelanda, New Zealand soprano, and Peter Cooper, New Zealand pianist on leave from the Australian Armed Forces, broadcast from National Stations. The N.Z.B.S. Orchestra travelled to Auckland for studio performances and public concerts, one of the latter being in conjunction with the Primary Schools' Music Festival. During the year Mr. Andersen Tyrer was engaged to audition orchestral players throughout New Zealand in order to examine the possibility of establishing a full-time symphony orchestra. On numerous occasions musical societies throughout the Dominion have received assistance from the Service in connection with their activities. Music has been lent to them, and in centres where there are studio orchestras their

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services have, when possible, been made available to assist the societies in the presentation of performances of a higher standard than would otherwise be possible. Plays and Feature Programmes—A total of 126 major dramatic productions were broadcast, .including a large number of works by famous authors. Many special features were written and produced by the Service, such as that for the School Broadcasts Session, the dramatic historical serial,. " England Expects." During the period, under review twenty-four of the thirty-two episodes of the latter were written, recorded, and broadcast. The dramatic serials, " Susie in Storyland " and " Stories, Old and New," were completed during the year. The year has been remarkable for the increase in the number of scripts' submitted for broadcasting. In all, 651 scripts were examined, compared with 270 in 1944-45; 227 in 1943-44; 304 in 1942-43. Of these, 406 were dramatic scripts, 155 were short stories, and 90 were continuity scripts. Two hundred and seventy-four were accepted. Of the total stated, 106 scripts were submitted by New Zealand authors, but the majority were not of a. sufficiently high standard, only 7 being acceptable. With a view to encouraging local writers, a Radio Play Competition was announced towards the end of 1945. The competition was divided into twoclasses —Class 1, where a contestant might enter an original' play on any subject, and Class 2, where the entry was required to deal with an historical subject. There were 204 entries in Class 1, 85 in Class 2, and 5 miscellaneous; scripts were submitted, making a total of 294 entries. The competition is at. present being judged. Light Music, Variety, and Bands.—The best local talent and overseas recordings were used in the preparation of variety programmes. Variety concerts organized by the Service for the Forces were relayed from military camps. Special sessions of dance music by New Zealand players in studios and cabarets were arranged, in addition to recorded programmes of this type. A number of brass and pipe bands were featured, and community sings were relayed. A highlight of the variety programmes were the broadcasts on two evenings of concerts by the international variety star, Gracie Fields. Outside Broadcasts. —Among functions of national interest relayed during the year were the State luncheons to the Governor of Fiji, Sir Alexander Grantham, K.C.M.G., High Commissioner for the Western Pacific; to the delegates to the Civil Aviation Conference; to the New Zealand Victoria Cross winners; to Mr. W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand iii London; to Lord Alanbrook and Sir Philip Vian; the civic receptions tothe Right Hon. the Prime Minister on his return from the San Francisco Conference, and to Sir William and Lady Dobbie; and the civic farewells at Dunedin and Auckland to the retiring Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Cyril Newall, and Her Excellency Lady Newall. Other broadcasts carried out were the patriotic concert by Polish children at present resident at Pahiatua, and a description of the manoeuvres in Cook Strait by the aircraft-carrier H.M.S. " Indefatigable," and the destroyers, H.M.S. "Wizard" and "Urchin." A relay of special historic interest was the opening at Kaikoura of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. Parliamentary Broadcasts—Broadcasts were made regularly from the House of Representatives, with the necessary observance of wartime restrictions durinsr hostilities.

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Among important items of news broadcast from the House was that by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister announcing- the appointment of Sir Bernard Freyberg as Governor-General Designate of New Zealand. The reading of the Budget by the Minister of Finance, the Right Hon. W. Nash, was broadcast from all main stations. The national observance of a minute's silent prayer at 9 o'clock each evening continued to be recognized in the House by members standing while the chimes of Big Ben were broadcast in the chamber. During the year the South African Broadcasting Corporation and the Australian Broadcasting Commission both sent representatives to study parliamentary broadcasting and other broadcasting activities in New Zealand, and it is interesting to note that parliamentary broadcasts are to be introduced in Australia in 1946. Religious Broadcasts. —Relays of Church services each Sunday morning and evening, broadcast devotional services each week-day morning, and the observance of a silent-prayer period during the chiming of Big Ben at 9 o'clock each evening were continued. Devotional services were extended to include broadcasts from Station 4YZ, Invereargill, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and a number of thanksgiving, anniversary, and other special services were broadcast. The wartime prayer service broadcast on "Wednesday evenings was discontinued after the end of the war. A memorial service held on the Sunday following President Roosevelt's death was relayed from St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Wellington. The Service is indebted to the Central Religious Advisory Committee and the local Church Committees for their continued assistance and for their co-operation in the mutual effort to make religious broadcasts as effective as possible. Broadcasts for Schools'. —The general policy for these programmes is determined by a committee representative of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service, the Education Department, and the New Zealand Educational Institute. The programmes are planned in d,etail by the Service on a national basis. The broadcasts to schools of two hours and three-quarters per week comprise music appreciation, singing, rhythm for juniors, literature, history through literature (dramatized), and talks on news, social studies, naturestudy, and science. The number of schools listed to receive booklets as at the 31st March, 1946, is 1,403, an increase of 160 on last year's figures. During the year two booklets were compiled and published. The musical booklet contained songs to be taught in the session, and the general booklet included outlines of the year's schemes in social studies, literature, music appreciation, and rhythm for juniors. The French booklet, compiled and published in 1945, is still in use. The music and general booklets were made available to teachers only, owing to the restrictions on newsprint, and the French booklet was issued to schools in the ratio of one to every two pupils, A new venture has been the introduction of news talks for the Broadcasts to Schools Session. Twenty-nine of these were prepared and broadcast. Special talks were 'added to programmes in connection with Anzac Day, Empire Day, Arbor Day, and the Children's Book Week. Two half-hourly sessions weekly, arranged by the Education Department's Correspondence School were broadcast. These included talks on physical education, music, travel, &c.

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A film strip on broadcasting, for distribution through the Education Departments Visual Aids Section, is in the course of preparation. The script was prepared by the Service. The officer in charge of school broadcasts visited a number of town and country schools to observe the reception of programmes and the use made of them by teachers and pupils. Women's Sessions.—Regular morning programmes compiled specially for women listeners were presented. These included talks prepared by the Association for Country Education, Otago University, and also talks covering a wide field from historical subjects to problems created by the war and its aftermath. Health talks were also broadcast in these sessions in collaboration with the Health Department. Many of the world's greatest artists were featured in the session, " For My Lady," presented daily from the National stations. Sporting Broadcasts. —Although sporting broadcasts were restricted for part of the year, there was a great increase after the cessation of hostilities. Broadcasts of club and representative Rugby matches, cricket matches, racing and trotting meetings, and other sporting fixtures, such as Rugby-league matches in Auckland, swimming and amateur athletic championships, and results and summaries of the Dominion Bowling Championships, totalled 393. A survey of the chief week-end sporting events was broadcast each week from Station 2YC and the short-wave station ZLT7. Particulars were supplied to the Air Force and Army for signalling to their respective personnel until the end of 1945. The Commercial stations provided a coverage of results by means of sports flashes and talks. Attendances- at the matches with the visiting Australian cricket side were the largest on record, but, in addition, many thousands listened to ball-by-ball descriptions broadcast from the ground. At the request of the Australian Broadcasting Commission commentaries were relayed to Australia for rebroadcasting there. The tour of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Rugby Football Team in England was covered by broadcasting, the results as soon as they were received, and following this by a fifteen-minute review of the play at 6.30 in the evening by Lieutenant. W. J. McCarthy, on tour with the team. In addition, Station 2YA was brought on the air in the early hours of the morning to rebroadcast the whole of the matches with England, Scotland, Wales, and Combined Services. Commentaries on the running of the '1945 Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup were rebroadcast by courtesy of the Australian Broadcasting Commission through the main National and Commercial stations. Records were received from the Australian Station 3DB of commentaries by Eric Welch on the chances o'f New Zealand horses in various races in Australia. Racing broadcasts were extended by the inclusion of Stations 2YH, Napier, and 4YZ, Invercargill, in the stations from which racing commentaries are broadcast. A sporting item of special interest rebroadcast from the 8.8.C. was the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race. Special Services and Co-operation, with other Government Departments.— Broadcasting was used extensively in the interests of war campaigns such as the Victory Loan, National Savings, and appeals on behalf of the National Patriotic Fund Board. Ministers of the Crown, the Leader of the Opposition, and representative citizens broadcast talks in support of the Victory Loan. The Anzac Day Radio Appeal for the National Patriotic Fund Board and Provincial Patriotic Councils resulted in the collection of approximately £66,000.

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The Economic Information Service was granted time on the air for the announcement of ceiling prices and discussions on consumers' war and post-war problems. In collaboration with the Rehabilitation Department, publicity was again given to the assistance available to returned servicemen. Appeals for missing persons, cars, and motor-cycles were broadcast .at the request of the Police Department. As soon as censorship regulations permitted, national and local weather reports were resumed over the National and Commercial networks, and the pre-war practice of broadcasting road, beach, and navigation warnings was re-instituted. Fire safety announcements were broadcast for the Forestry Department. On the arrival of troopships at New Zealand ports, broadcasts of disembarkation and troop-train time-tables were made for the Army Department. This service considerably facilitated transport and reception arrangements at the various centres. The R.N.Z.A.F. broadcasts from Singapore giving news of released prisoners-of-war were recorded and rebroadcast, and transcriptions were supplied to the Army and Air Departments. Publicity for the Health Department's Mobile Units in the South Island was provided by the stations at Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Progress and final results of the Hamilton, Dunedin North, and Raglan by-elections were broadcast. Recordings.—Though the position improved considerably, lack of material and equipment still made it necessary to confine recording work mostly to news and commentaries, special programmes, and events of national importance. Many of these will be of great historic and programme value in the future. For recording purposes the Service requires large quantities of blank •disks, and this was particularly so during the war. The disks consist of an aluminium base coated with a special solution, on which the record is cut. All available aluminium was required for war purposes and was consequently not available for the manufacture' of disks., At one stage the position was so acute that before the Service could import disks it was necessary to supply the manufacturers with a corresponding number of used records so that the aluminium base could be recoated and used again. Despite these difficulties, it was possible, by limiting recording to most •essiential purposes, to maintain the recording of important news and commentaries and messages from our Forces. The " New Zealand Listener—The New Zealand Listener had another successful year and maintained its position as one of the most widely read journals in the Dominion. Although the paper position was never good enough to justify a campaign to boost the circulation, the number of readers grew steadily, and the advertising revenue was higher than it has ever been. One of the problems created by the paper shortage has been the restriction of the space devoted to programmes, and that continued throughout the year. Steps were taken as the year closed to overcome this weakness. In addition, the staff has been strengthened by the return of men from war service. The journal continued to form a valuable link between license-holders and the Service and featured supplementary information, which has contributed to the success of broadcast programmes. At the request of the Information Section of the Prime Minister's Department the Editor of the Listener visited Japan to report on the

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conditions in which, the New Zealand members of J Force would find! themselves when they arrived as occupying troops. Relations with Overseas Organizations.—The 8.8.C. again accorded the Service much valuable assistance, which is gratefully acknowledged. News, talks, other features were regularly rebroadcast from 8.8.C. stations,, and many excellent recorded programmes were received from the London Transcription Service of the Corporation. The monumental features, "TheHarbour Called Mulberry" and " Radar," describing the construction and use of the artificial harbours in the Normandy landing, and the development and use of Radar by the R.A.F., were broadcast throughout New Zealand,, and established a new peak for documentary broadcasting. Further recordings of the successful feature, " The Brains Trust," were received and broadcast. At the request of the 8.8.C., the Service compiled newsletters on theScottish and Welsh elements' in New Zealand and forwarded recordings for the Scottish and Welsh regional programmes of the 8.8.C. The Serviceis Mow constructing for the 8.8.C. a series of talks on North Country families who have settled in New Zealand. Further co-operation included a contribution to the 8.8.C. Christmas programme, and a recording of a Church service from the Khyber Pass Presbyterian Church, Auckland. Thanks are due to the Australian Broadcasting Commission for extending valuable facilities to the Service, to the All India Radio for facilitating " Boys Overseas " programmes for New-Zealanders serving in that area, and to the American Office of War Information for music by great symphony orchestras and other recordings of outstanding musical and dramaticperformances. During the year visits were received from representatives of other broadcasting organizations throughout the British Commonwealth. Theseincluded Mr. R. S. Caprara, Director-General of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, who inquired into the system of commercial broadcasting in New Zealand; Mr. R. J. F. Boyer, Chairman, and Mr. C. J. A. Moses,. General Manager, of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, who investigated our system of parliamentary broadcasting; Mr. N. Hutchison, 8.8.C.'s Liaison Officer for the Pacific Area; Mr. J/ Green, 8.8.C. Agricultural Liaison Officer ; Mr. D. T. Worrall, General Manager of the Herald Broadcasting Stations, Melbourne; and Mr. A. Campbell Jones, General Manager,. Radio 2UE Sydney Pty., Ltd. Short-waive Broadcasts.—The Service continued to broadcast each evening over Station 2YC and the Post and Telegraph Department's Short-wave Station ZLT7 a ten-minute digest of New Zealand news supplied by the Information Section of the Prime Minister's Department. Development of New Zealand Talent.—ln keeping with the established policy of encouraging New Zealand talent, broadcasting engagements were given to such local artists', societies, and musical combinations as had attained a reasonable standard of performance. There were 2,651 broadcasts by local artists and 691 recitals by local musical societies, choirs, and bands, as mentioned previously. During the year secondary and primary schools' music festivals were broadcast at certain centres, while school choirs also broadcast performances. The Victory Loan Theme Song and Radio Play Competitions were held during the year. In talks and dramatic activities many hundreds of engagements were given to local actors and speakers, either for recording or direct broadcasts. There were 2,008 local talks over the National network. The Service continued to purchase scripts of talks, plays, and features by local writers.

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Commercial Activities War Effort. —Organizations associated with the war effort continued to make as great a nse of our facilities as in war years, and it was therefore still necessary to refuse advertisers some of the most favoured times on the air in order that these periods might be used for such publicity. Special efforts were made in connection with stabilization, electricity-conservation, national savings, and war loans. On Anzac Day a telephone appeal was conducted for the National Patriotic Fund. The Division again had the co-operation of advertisers, who on occasions generously made their time available for publicizing these activities. After the cessation of hostilities the times reserved for war publicity were needed to continue certain activities allied to the war effort. Time is at present occupied by national savings, war famine relief, and stabilization. Programmes.—A programme highlight of the year was the visit of Gracie Fields. Performances by this artist were sponsored on the ZB network, and the fee was donated to patriotic funds. ■ Another overseas artist featured was the ex New Zealander, Jack Davey t who, supported by a company of New Zealand artists, toured the four main centres and broadcast programmes on behalf of a national advertiser. The celebrations on YE and VJ Days were suitably covered by the Commercial stations, which remained on the air for lengthy periods. Two highly successful talent quests were sponsored, each involving an expenditure of some hundreds of pounds by the advertisers. In Auckland over a thousand entries were received. With the cessation of hostilities it has been possible to handle outside broadcasts, Special relays included regattas and other sporting fixtures, the Anzac Dawn Service, the City Markets, the City Mission, festivities on YE and VJ Days, as well as Christmas and other holidays. Scenes on the arrival of troopships have been described, and programmes have been broadcast from the military wards of hospitals. Many interesting personalities broadcast from the Commercial stations,, including Rear-Admiral Paul Hendren, U.S.N; Sir Charles Marr, of Australia; Mr. Justice Davis, High Commissioner for Canada in Australia; General G. I. Carpenter, of the Salvation Army; Mr. Isador Goodman, South African pianist; Captain Davey, formerly Master of the " Awatea "; and" Mr. W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. In Dunedin the National and Commercial Divisions combined in operating a broadcasting studio at the Winter Show Buildings. This has proved one of the centres of attraction at the yearly winter show. Interest continues in listener participation programmes, particularly in the quiz type, in which considerable sums of money have been won. The Head Office circulating record library has been used extensively by stations for all types of programme work. Specialty Sessions. —Specialty sessions were continued. They comprised sessions for sportsmen, gardeners, housewives, bachelor girls, and motorists. Much time was devoted to improving the material broadcast in these sessions.. A service operates at the present time whereby associate material for women's sessions is prepared at Head Office. Scripts on nutrition, dental hygiene, mothercraft, and slimming are written by the Head Office copywriter, who specializes; in research on women's topics. Before being broadcast these scripts are approved by the Health Department. Sessions of this nature offer useful community service, particularly to country listeners, who receive only periodical visits from their District Health Nurses.

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In addition to the above, scripts are written on other subjects of special interest to women such as jewellery, clothes, women in other countries, and food customs. The biographical series, " Women Celebrities, Past and Present," which gives glimpses of great women from a woman's point of yiew, has proved very popular. All this material is welcomed by those responsible for personality sessions, and reports received prove its popularity with listeners. Feature Programmes.—Some outstanding feature programmes and radio •documentaries were, made available by the 8.8.C., and the United States •Office of War Information provided recordings featuring world-famous artists. An interesting library of this type of programme has been built up. Feature programmes have proved very popular since their inception, and .many thousands of episodes are presented each year. With the adequate ■choice now available, it has been possible to improve the standard by careful selection. Care is taken to ensure that no unduly sensational type of programme is broadcast in the early evening when young children may be listening. Locally produced features have increased in number during the year. Head Office recorded 305 episodes, while the Auckland Studio's total Increased from 85 to 105 during the current year. Some of these programmes were written by New-Zealanders and concerned our own country The Programme Departments have been encouraged to assist the sales section and build composite programmes, utilizing scripts and recordings from our library. Advertisers have reported excellent results from the use ■of these programmes, and as many as fourteen have been running in a single week. The use of these programmes conserves overseas funds to some extent. Community Service.—As previously indicated,' the Commercial Division has given a great deal of assistance to non-profit-making organizations, and local authorities. In addition to co-operating with the Police Department in the location •of missing persons and vehicles, assistance has been given to such organizations as the Y.M.C.A., St. John Ambulance, Y.W.C.A., Red Cross Society, Plunket Society, all branches of patriotic organizations, Returned Services' Association, CORSO, and UNRRA. Accommodation.. —Suitable accommodation for staff and equipment remains ■a problem, particularly in Wellington. In addition to the executive offices, the Commercial Division is housed in four separate buildings in Wellington 'City. This lack of centralized housing affects the efficiency of the Department to a considerable extent and throws additional burdens on the staff. Staff. —Each station during the war years was seriously short of skilled personnel. A reduced staff was called upon to perform exacting duties, both as a normal part of broadcasting and in association with the final year of war. Heavy advertising schedules—the heaviest ever carried by the Service —meant Additional burdens on a depleted staff. With a return to normal conditions it is hoped that the staff position will be improved, thus enabling the maximum service to be provided both to listeners and advertisers. Advertising.—Sales revenue has once again shown a steady increase ■despite the shortages in some categories of consumer goods. This increase is all the more interesting in view of the fact that Commercial stations have reduced broadcasting time by more than 400 hours in the last year as part of the Electricity Conservation Campaign. Relations with advertisers remain on the same excellent basis as previously, and the Sales Staff continues to give the best possible service to clients. A major problem has been to find time placements to satisfy all .advertisers. The more popular time bands have been sold out, and there

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is a waiting-list of advertisers wishing' to secure any cancellations. Due no doubt to this state of affairs, advertisers in some centres are experimenting with programmes betweeen 11 p.m. and midnight, and, judging from reports, sales results are being obtained. It is interesting to note that although licensed listeners have increased considerably during the last few years, which means a larger audience, the advertising rates remain the same as in 1939. Ftnamcial Report.—Audited accounts for the year under review will be published in parliamentary paper 8.-l [Pt. IV]. Items of particular, interest contained therein are as follow, corresponding figures for the previous year being shown in parentheses:— National Division: Income for the year totalled £480,193 (£468,359), comprising radio license fees £441,371, miscellaneous revenue £30,805, and net profit on publication of the New Zealmid Listener, £8,017. Expenditure on programmes absorbed £116,177, including £17,541 paid to members of orchestras, £46,578 on talent, £6,423 was spent on the welfare and entertainment of the fighting Forces stationed in New Zealand and overseas, while copyright, features, and miscellaneous programme charges amounted to £45,635. General administrative and running expenses cost £140,367. Total expenditure (including provision for depreciation of assets, £19,465) amounted to £276,009 (£263,436), leaving a working surplus on the year's operations of £204,184 (£204,923). Of this surplus, £260,000 was invested, making a total of £1,830,000 set aside to provide for future development and to overtake arrears of construction and replacement of equipment. The impact of war conditions has been particularly severe in curtailing development and red'ucing maintenance work as far as possible, with the result that a heavy programme of expenditure must be faced as soon as labour and materials are available. Commercial Division: Sales of station time established a record turnover of £289,379, other revenue headings accounted for £6,191, making a total income of £295,570 (£280,444). In addition to time sales, local and national community organizations were assisted by free announcements to the value of £6,770. Rate concessions on advertising placed by Government Departments and by non-profit-making organizations equalled £12,595. Programme expenditure amounted to £20,893. It must be remembered that the foregoing figure does not represent the total cost of programmes used on the Commercial stations, as a substantial percentage of advertisers engage their own talent and supply their own features. General administrative and running expenses amounted to £158,902, and depreciation £8,467, the expenditure for the year totalling £188,262 (£176,168), leaving a net profit of £107,308 (£104,276). £82,000 has been provided to meet taxation and Appropriation Account now stands at £109,947. Investments of £120,000 have been set aside to meet capital extensions and major improvements in office and studio accommodation. Engineering Section Nktimber of Stations.-—There has been no change in the total number of stations in use during the twelve months under review, there being twenty-three medium-wave stations in operation altogether. This total includes stations in five main centres transmitting Commercial Division programmes, and four small stations, two of which are still operated under contract to the Department, and the other two being privatelyowned stations to each of which a subsidy is granted. All the stations, with the exception of the latter four, are staffed and maintained by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service.

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Operational Detailss. —The following are the operational details of the stations: —

Short-wave Transmitting Service.—A limited short-wave transmitting service has been in operation throughout the period under review, by arrangement with the New Zealand, Post and Telegraph Department. This has consisted of a New Zealand News Bulletin of ten minutes' duration prepared specially for the Pacific, and commencing at 9.30 p.m. New Zealand time daily. It has been radiated by the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department's short-wave station ZLT7 on a frequency of 6715 megacycles per second (4467 metres), with an aerial power of 2^kW. This service will eventually be taken over by the short-wave transmittingstations of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. The two 7-JkW. stations recently purchased for this purpose are at present being installed at Titahi Bay. Whilst good progress has been made on the installation of these transmitters it is expected that some months will elapse before the necessary directive aerial arrays will be completed. Overseas Short-wave Receiving Service.—The short-wave receiving-station operated by the Service at Quartz Hill, Makara, has given very satisfactory service ever since it was first put into operation sixteen months ago. It was of particular use at the times of the cessation of hosilities in Italy, Europe, and in Japan. On these occasions commentaries and programmes were received from the principal countries throughout the world and retransmitted for the benefit of listeners in New Zealand. In order further to improve the service obtained from this station it is intended, in the near future, to extend the aerial system by the provision of additional directive aerials. This will permit the " diversity" system of reception to be used to a larger extent than at present possible for reception from the principal countries overseas, thus reducing to a less noticeable amount the fading and distortion which is a characteristic of short-wave signals.

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Station. Studio Location. i Transmitter Aerial 1 Energy. Frequency. kW. Kilocyeles/sec. 1YA Auckland 10-00 650 1ZB* „ 1-00 1,070 1ZM 0-75 1,250 1YX 015 880 2ZJt Gisborne 0-25 980 2ZMJ ,, 0-09 1,180 2YH Napier 5-00 750 2YBf New Plymouth 0-10 810 2ZA* Palmerston North 0-25 1,400 2YA Wellington 60-00 570 2YC 99 5-00 840 2ZB* „ 1-00 1,130 2YD „ 0-50 990 2YN Nelson 0-03 920 3ZR Greymouth 0-10 940 3YA Christchurch 10-00 720 3ZB* „ 1-00 1,430 3YL „ 0-30 1,200 4YA Dunedin 10-00 790 4ZB* 1-00 1,310 4Y0 0-15 1,140 4ZD+ Invercargill .. .. ' .. 0-06 1,110 4YZ 5-00 680 * Transmitting Commercial Division programmes. t Owned by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service and operated under contract. { Privately-owned stations subsidized by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service.

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Prapagational Research. —In co-operation with the British Broadcasting 'Corporation, measurements have been taken at Quartz Hill of the field strengths of the vllbious 8.8.C. Empire transmissions with a view to an improvement in reception and also as a contribution to propagational research. Considerable assistance has been rendered by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in the supplying of measurements of the azimuthal angle of arrival in New Zealand of the 8.8.C. transmissions, It is the intention of the Broadcasting Service to provide additional •equipment at Quartz Hill to enable these various observations to be continued. The Service is represented on the Radio Research Committee of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Mobile* Recording Equipment.—High-class programme-recording equipment of a mobile nature is in the process of manufacture, and when completed will be mounted in suitable mot or-vehicles. This equipment is being provided in duplicate so that it will be available in both North and South Islands. Processing and Duplicating Plaint for Recordings.—A need arises from time to time for a number of copies of certain recordings. While in the •case of small numbers this can be done by " dubbing " each disk from the •original, this is not a satisfactory method for larger numbers. In this case it is preferable to have a special die made from the original and then to press out the number of copies required. At the present time there is no such plant in New Zealand, and it is the intention of the Department to install a small plant. Besides being of use to the New Zealand Broadcasting Service, this will be of assistance also to other Departments which may require quantities of special recordings. Hours of Transmission.—The aggregate transmission time of all the : stations, both National and Commercial, amounted during the year to 77,329 hours. Of the scheduled transmission time, only 60 hours were lost. This figure includes 21 hours due to mains power failures beyond the control of this Department and 36 hours due to failures of technical •equipment. Receiving Licenses.—During the year a total of 393,899 receiving licenses were issued, an increase of 14,657 for the twelve months. Replacement of Existing Equipment.—A very large proportion of the technical equipment of the various stations is rapidly becoming obsolete and in many cases is overdue for replacement. This has resulted in higher maintenance costs and a decrease in the reliability of the stations. Future Expansion.—Plans are prepared for the erection of further stations with .a view to the improvement of reception in areas which are not at present enjoying a high grade service. The areas first needing attention are the Bay of Plenty, North Auckland, and the West Coast of the South Island districts. In view of the difficulty in the provision of the buildings necessary to house both the studio and transmitting equipment, and also the difficulty •of obtaining that equipment, there is likely to be some considerable delay before these improvements can be effected. James Shelley, Director of Broadcasting.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (648 copies), £22 10s

By Authority: E. V, Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —l 946.

JPrice 6d.]

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