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Religious Services. Towards the end of the year broadcasts of morning Church services were inaugurated at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, and it is hoped to make similar arrangements in the near future at Dunedin. Children's Hour. No substantial changes were made during the year in the arrangement of the children's hour, but it is evident that as time goes on it will be necessary to impose some limit on the broadcasting of birthday greetings to children. The Board is loth, however, until some such action becomes absolutely necessary, to follow the examples of many other countries and charge for the transmission of greetings. News. The continued courtesy of the daily newspapers in the four main centres has made possible the maintenance of a news service of considerable value, particularly to country dwellers. Market reports, cattle sales, and other matters of interest to primary producers are regular features of this service. ADVISORY COUNCIL. Members of the Advisory Council are appointed by His Excellency the Governqr-General in accordance with section 4 of the Broadcasting Act, 1931, and the names of those who served throughout 1933 are as follow :— Mr. J. H. Owen, Wellington (Chairman), Mr. W. A. Waters, Palmerston North, Mr. A. B. Chappell, Auckland, Mr. C. R. Russell, Christchurch, Mr. J. S. Anchor, Hamilton, Mr. H. Booth, Dunedin, Mr. F. T. Davis, New Plymouth, Mr. A. W. Jones, Invercargill. Three meetings of the Council were held during the year, the last taking place at Christchurch in order to afiord members the opportunity of inspecting the new transmitter and buildings at Gebbie's Pass. All the members of the Council took an active part in listeners' organizations or radio clubs prior to their appointments, and this experience has been responsible for much useful advice tendered to the Board. The Council has been in thorough agreement with the Board in all major policy matters. RECEIVING LICENSES. The following table shows the increases in radio receiving licenses during the past four years in the Dominion :— Number of Percentage of Licensee. Increase. 31st December, 1929 .. .. .. .. 50,273 31st December, 1930 .. .. .. .. 60,162 19-6 31st December, 1931 .. .. .. .. 71*453 18-7 31st December, 1932 .. .. .. .. 88,993 24-5 31st December, 1933 .. .. .. • • 113,053 27-0 Percentages of Licenses to Population. New Zealand now has 7-5 licenses per hundred of population, and is, in this respect, about equal to Australia. Following is a comparative list based on the latest available information : — „ , Licenses per Hundred Licenses per Hundred Country. of Po £ ulation . Country. of Population . Denmark .. .. 14-7 Switzerland .. .. 6-3 Great Britain .. .. 12-3 Norway.. .. .. 4-7 Sweden .. .. .. 10 ■ 3 Belgium . . . . 4-7 New Zealand and Australia 7-5 Hungary .. .. 3-7 Austria ~ . . .. 7-2 South African Union . . 2-9 Germany .. •• 7-0 Japan .. .. .. I*6 New Zealand towns (as at 30th November, 1933) _ Licenses per Hundred Licenses per Hundred Town - of Population. ' of Population. Blenheim .. 16-7 Greymouth .. .. 8-6 Wellington .. .. 13-6 Hastings .. 8-5 Masterton .. .. 12-9 Wanganui .. .. 8-4 Ashburton .. .. 12-6 Whangarei ... •• 8-2 Oamaru .. 12-0 Bluff .. .. .. 8-0 Palmerston North .. 11-7 Dunedin .. .. 8-0 New Plymouth .. ..10-4 Auckland .. .. 7-9 Christchurch .. .. 9-7 Gisborne .. .. 7-2 Hamilton .. 9-0 Rotorua .. .. 7-0 Nelson .. .. •• 9-0 Invercargill .. .. 6-6 Napier . . .. .. 8-7 Timaru .. .. .. 6-4

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