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establishing communication direct with the United Kingdom, instead of via Sydney, will also require to receive consideration should there be any appreciable increase in the number of calls. BROADCASTING SERVICE. A detailed statement of the activities of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board is contained in the Board's second report, which has been presented separately to Parliament, accompanied by a balance-sheet. The past year has witnessed a very appreciable development in the broadcasting service of the Dominion. The Broadcasting Board has installed a modern trans-mitting-station at Gebbie's Pass, near Christchurch, for the operation of Station 3YA. It is expected that a new studio and transmitting-station for Station IYA, Auckland, will be opened at the end of the present year. The installing of new transmitting equipment at Station 4YA, Dunedin, is also under consideration. Consequent upon advancements in technical efficiency, a considerable improvement has been effected in broadcast transmissions, with increasing coverage from the stations of the New Zealand Broadcasting Board. The main stations are operating almost continuously between the hours of 7 a.m. and II p.m. on week-days, and 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Sundays. Alternative services provide transmissions from 5 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. on week-days, and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. The three most important private stations operating in the Dominion were taken over by. the Department during the year. These were stations IZR (Auckland), 2ZW (Wellington), and 3ZC (Christchurch). The plant and equipment of the stations were ultimately purchased by the Broadcasting Board. A review of the waves used by the New Zealand broadcasting stations was undertaken during the year, as the result of which the main stations have been allotted frequencies which have extended the effective range of their emissions. As far as possible each broadcasting station in the Dominion has been allotted a wave for its exclusive use. Licenses continue to be issued at a remarkable rate. On the 31st March the number of licensed listeners was 118,08(3, an increase of 24,597 in twelve months, which is a record. On the 31st July, 1934, the number of licenses had further increased to 133,148. EMPIRE BROADCASTING SERVICE. The transmissions from the Empire Broadcasting Stations in England have been continued during the year, but, unfortunately, the signals intended for reception in New Zealand have not yet reached the high standard required to make them suitable for rebroadcasting regularly in New Zealand, although during certain seasons of the year this standard has been attained during irregular periods. Every assistance is being rendered to the British Broadcasting Corporation by the Department in observing and reporting on the reception of the signals, and in this matter the Department lias been assisted by the co-operation of the owners of amateur radio stations. Many rebroadcasts of important functions overseas are being made with the assistance of the overseas radio-telephone channel, while on a few occasions the Empire transmissions have been used. RADIO PATENT RIGHTS. As indicated in my last report, the agreement between Government and Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., in respect of patent rights was to terminate on the 31st May, 1934. In response to representations from radiodealers, whose negotiations with the group representing the holders of patent rights were not completed, an extension of the currency of the agreement was made for a further month, the agreement finally terminating on the 30th June. It is understood that an agreement following the lines of the Australian agreement has been made between the New Zealand importers and manufacturers of radio apparatus on the one hand and the patents group on the other for the payment to the patents group of 3s. 6d. per cathode anode stream to cover the future use in New Zealand of radio patents.

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