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REPRESENTATION OF NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT ON PACIFIC CABLE BOARD. The Hon. Sir C. J. Parr, K.C.M.G., was appointed on the Ist August, 1926, to represent New Zealand on the Pacific Cable Board in place of the Hon. Sir James Allen, K.C.B. PACIFIC CABLE BOARD APPOINTMENT. The development of cable business in the Dominion has led the Pacific Cable Board to make new arrangements for the conduct of its affairs. It was found expedient to appoint a Business Manager exclusively for the Dominion. The new position was filled by the appointment of Mr. A. T. Markman, late Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department. REDUCTIONS IN CABLE RATES. Results of the increased cable facilities arising materially from the duplication of the Pacific cable have been a welcome reduction by both the Pacific and Eastern routes in the rates to Great Britain and Ireland, and an extension to the United States of America of the daily letter category of messages. In addition, the rates by the Pacific route to Canada and Newfoundland have been appreciably lowered. INTERNATIONAL RADIO-TELEGRAPH CONFERENCE. It is satisfactory to record that after several postponements arrangements are now in train for the holding of an International Radio-telegraph Conference. The gathering will take place at Washington in October, 1927, and my Department will be represented by the Chief Telegraph Engineer, Mr. A. Gibbs, M.I.E.E. Since the last International Conference, in 1912, communication by radio-telegraphy and radio-telephony has advanced so remarkably and has made such strides as an accepted means of communication that a co-ordination of international regulations has become an urgent need. The allotment of distinctive wave-lengths to different classes of radio-electric services is in particular expected to have a clarifying effect in the realm of radio-activity. RADIO-TELEPHONE BROADCASTING. In conformity with its agreement to erect and to maintain modern broadcasting stations at the four main centres the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Ltd., has opened modern stations at Auckland and Christchurch. The Wellington station, now in course of erection, will, it is claimed, be in respect of aerial power the second most powerful broadcasting station in the Empire. It is expected that when the full service is in operation radio receiving will make in the Dominion the same wide popular appeal that it does in other countries. A very decided fillip to the general interest in radio receiving has been given by the opening of the first large stations. PRIVATE RADIO-STATIONS. The remarkable increase in radio receiving licenses, from 3,588 for the year ended the 31st March, 1926, to 18,162 for the year ended the 31st March, 1927, may be ascribed to the opening of large broadcasting stations at Auckland and Christchurch. It is reasonable to expect a much greater increase when the complete chain of broadcasting stations is in operation. RENEWAL OF RADIO LICENSES. It has been found necessary to amend the Radio Regulations in the direction of requiring every owner of radio apparatus who fails to renew a license expiring on the 31st March of any year to dismantle the apparatus within a stipulated period.