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Number 4 is a small studio 16 ft. by 10 ft. and 10 ft. high, and is used for talks and similar purposes. The building is thoroughly up to date and was specially designed to ensure efficient transmission from the studio end of the transmitting chain. Provision has been made for additional studio accommodation, and space provided for other extensions. Special heating equipment and air-conditioning plant are interesting features of the building. Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., were also the successful tenderers for the new transmitter to be erected at Highcliff, near Dunedin, which is to have a power of 10 kilowatts aerial energy, the same as the new IYA transmitter. Plans and specifications are in course of preparation for the necessary buildings on the site, and the new station should be operating by November next. The site at Highcliff was selected after exhaustive tests from various localities near Dunedin by means of a portable test transmitter and field-strength measuring equipment, and is considered to be the best obtainable. The end of April, 1935, should see the completion of extensions and improvements to the 3YA transmitter at Gebbie's Pass, which will have the effect of increasing the power to 10 kilowatts aerial energy. When this increase is effected and the new 4YA transmitter is brought into use, the Dolninion will have three modern transmitters of ten kilowatts. The next step is to be the erection, near Wellington, of a national transmitter of 60 kilowatts aerial energy. Specifications for this transmitter are in hand, and tenders will be called at an early date. The Board is represented on the Interference Committee which has, during the year, assisted Government in the preparation of regulations for the control of interference due to human causes. In deciding to increase the power of the four main stations, the Board took into account the desirability of providing signal-strength which will be above the noise level in most localities. As opportunity offers, careful surveys are being made of the transmission equivalent of the terrain in different parts of the Dominion. During the year much useful information was gathered in several localities, notably Canterbury, Otago, and Nelson, by means of field-strength measurements. The four main stations are now equipped with portable short-wave transmitters, making it possible to broadcast descriptions of events held at places not served by relay lines. The range of these transmitters is approximately ten miles. As recording apparatus is likely to become part and parcel of modern broadcasting, services, the Board has ordered, chiefly for experimental purposes, two sets of disc recorders, and it is expected that good use will be made of the apparatus. SUBSIDIZED PRIVATE BROADCASTING STATIONS. The following private broadcasting stations were paid, as formerly, regularly monthly subsidies throughout the year : IZH Hamilton, 2YB New Plymouth, 2ZF Palmerston North, 2ZD Masterton, 2ZJ Gisborne, 2ZH Napier, IZI' Invercargill, 3ZR Greymouth. Further assistance in the way of gramophone recordings is given to the subsidized stations, and relays of the national programmes are arranged in some cases. FINANCIAL REPORT. The Board's Third Balance-sheet and the relative Revenue Account, duly certified by the Controller and Auditor-General, are presented at the end of this report. In addition to the amount of £5,000 required to be paid annually off the amount owing for the assets of the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, Ltd., acquired from the Minister of Telegraphs, the sum of £10,000 was paid off during the year. In three years the Board has reduced this indebtedness by £25,039 17s. 2d. The total cost of land, buildings, technical equipment, and furniture for the new IYA transmitter at Henderson and for the new studio and office building at Auckland approximated £87,000. Of this amount some £28,000 remained unpaid at the 31st December, 1934. Balance-sheet. Considerable expenditure will be incurred in providing further transmitting equipment at Christchurch and new installations at Dunedin and Wellington. In addition, to provide sufficient accommodation and to conform to modern practice, it will be necessary within the next few years to erect new studio and office buildings in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The Board has deemed it advisable, therefore, to appropriate from revenue to Accumulated Fund the sum of £60,000 towards meeting capital expenditure. The old transmitting equipment and associated apparatus have been depreciated at the same rate as last year, but a lower rate has been applied to all new equipment. Revenue Account. After transferring £60,000 to Accumulated Fund towards meeting capital expenditure, and after providing for depreciation of assets, the excess of income over expenditure for the year ended 31st December, 1934, is £3,936 14s. lOd. The expenditure on programmes during the year was £46,167 13s. 10d.—£6,717 9s. Id. more than the amount expended in the previous year. This cost will tend to increase each year. The sum of £2,518 13s. 4d. was paid by way of subsidies to the eight subsidized private stations. In addition, £1,597 7s. sd. was expended in providing gramophone recordings, equipment, and relay lines for those stations. Maintenance of plant, power, and engineering, and operating salaries this year entailed an expenditure of £11,797 18s. Id., as against an expenditure of £7,796 12s. 7d. last year. Expenditure under this heading will increase considerably as higher-powered transmitting units are installed. The item, Administration salaries and expenses, is £6,017 os. Id. this year, the corresponding figure last year being £6,037 os. 9d. H. D. Vickery, Chairman. Geo. R. Hutchinson 1,, , ~, TJ , t > Members of the Board. Leslie Mactarlane J

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