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The interest in the educational talks for schools was fully maintained. A total of 74,657 books were issued free to the school-children for the fifteen months ended 31st March, 1937, as against 64,000 during the previous twelve months. There are now 357 schools participating in this service, as against 276 during the preceding twelve months. This gratifying increase in the Service has been made possible by the willing co-operation of the Education Department, the Education Boards, the Advisory Committees, and the speakers. Plays. Two hundred and eighty-one plays were broadcast during the period, as against two hundred and thirty-nine during the previous twelve months. Most of these plays were produced and presented by local performers under the supervision of the Department's officers, and have been a great source of enjoyment to those who are interested in this form of entertainment. The following are worthy of special mention : " A Midsummer Night's Dream," " Alcestis," " Bulldog Drummond," " A Bill of Divorcement," and " Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure." Arrangements were also made for special studio performances by the J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company which visited the Dominion, and the following plays were broadcast by them : " The Importance of Being Earnest," " The Circle," " Mr. Pim Passes By," and " The Breadwinner." Overseas Rebroadcasts. Important events taking place overseas have been rebroadcast by the Service for the benefit of listeners generally, and particularly for those people whose receiving-sets would not allow them to hear these broadcasts direct. Some of the most notable events and speeches rebroadcast by the national stations were: Descriptions of the funeral of His Majesty, the late King George V ; the speech of His Majesty King Edward VIII after the Proclamation ; the farewell message from the ex-King Edward VIII; the Proclamation of His Majesty, King George VI ; the commentaries on the rugby test matches played in England by the New Zealand team ; the commentaries on the Derby from Epsom Downs, and on the Motor-cycle Tourist Trophy Race from the Isle of Man ; the commentary on the Melbourne Cup Race ; also talks by the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, from Geneva, and by Miss Jean Batten, from Sydney. Parliamentary Broadcasts. The Government decided to permit the proceedings of Parliament to be broadcast, in order that listeners might be able to keep in touch with the work done by their representatives in Parliament. These broadcasts were inaugurated during the period under review, and have created great interest. Outside Broadcasts. Relays of many interesting and historical events taking place in the Dominion were arranged and carried out successfully. Amongst the more important of these were —The reading of the Proclamation of His Majesty, King Edward VIII by Lord Galway ; the opening of the Palmerston North - Dunedin Air Service ; the opening of the Bell Block Aerodrome and the unveiling of the memorial to the late Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith and the late Mr. C. T. P. Ulm ; the description of the unveiling of the memorial to the late Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, K.8.E., C.M.G., M.D. ; the opening of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum ; the arrival of the Pan-American Pacific Airways " Clipper Ship " ; the arrival of Mr. Ernie Clark at Wigram ; the opening of the World Conference of Chambers of Commerce ; the opening of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Conference ; the opening of the Pacific Rotary Conference ; and the inauguration of the appeal to the people of New Zealand for the King George V Memorial Fund by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. Sporting Broadcasts. Sporting broadcasts were many and varied. Ninety-two racing and sixty-five trotting meetings were dealt with ; commentaries were given on 101 rugby football matches, 101 wrestling matches, and 34 boxing matches. Yacht races were described on thirteen and swimming races on fourteen occasions. In addition talks on various aspects of sport are given regularly from the national stations, and many famous sportsmen were broadcast during the period under review. Special Services. Broadcasting is a useful adjunct to the social services of the Dominion, and the details below show some of the uses which have been made of the national system in this respect. Particular mention should be made here of the broadcasting of school lessons during the recent epidemic of infantile paralysis in the Dominion. This enabled school-children to be given homework during the period when many of the schools were closed. During the period 455 appeals were broadcast for information regarding missing persons, or persons required on account of the serious illness of relatives. Missing vehicles were the subject of 324 announcements, and numerous appeals were made on behalf of charity. Reports of wool-sales were broadcast frequently for the information of woolgrowers, and special weather reports for farmers are given regularly. Talks on gardening, book reviews, and advice to motorists were given at regular periods. News. By arrangement with the United Press Association, a limited amount of cable news was broadcast each evening, and this was augmented by the British Official Wireless News received regularly - from Rugby. By courtesy of the daily newspapers, a local news service was maintained.

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