F.—3,

Special Recorded Programmes. The recording facilities of the Service have been still further increased, and many types of programmes are now produced by the Service for the use of its own stations as well as for the use of the 8.8.C. in England. Recordings have also been made of authentic Maori songs, chants, and hakas, while the Centennial Celebrations have provided opportunities for recording Maori ceremonies. These Maori recordings have a distinct historic interest, and are regarded as a valuable acquisition to the library of the Service. Programme Analysis. An analysis of the matter broadcast during the 50,038 transmitting-hours shows that music took up 68-29 per cent, of the broadcasting-time. The following table sets out the position :—

Parliamentary Broadcasts. Broadcasts of the proceedings of the House of Representatives were continued during the year with the same interest as before on the part of the listening public. Reference may be made here to the death of the late Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M, J. Savage, who was first Minister in Charge of Broadcasting, and whose last public utterance was made through the stations of the National Broadcasting Service. Great appreciation was expressed by listeners of the broadcasting of the funeral ceremonies of the late Prime Minister. Outside Broadcasts. Relays of national, civic, sporting, and other outstanding events in the country increased during the year, and among the noteworthy relays undertaken were the following : Opening of the Centennial Exhibition at Wellington; Exhibition of work at the Education Department's Correspondence School ; the Eucharistic Congress at Wellington ; the arrival of H.M.S. " Achilles " at Auckland ; Centennial Celebrations, Waitangi ; Civic receptions to the Marquis and Marchioness of Willingdon, the Papal Legate Archbishop Panico, Major-General B. C. Freyberg, Sir Harry Battcrbee, and Krishnamurti. Sporting Broadcasts. The demand for sporting broadcasts is still keen, and during the year commentaries were broadcast on 144 Rugby matches, 74 wrestling matches, and 29 boxing matches. Racing and trotting meetings held at the four main centres were also covered, while swimming, cricket, tennis, golf, bowls, and other sporting events were described. Special Services. The special services provided form an important part of broadcast activities. Under this heading are included hints to motorists, gardening talks, reviews of books, weather reports and information for farmers and aviators, and weather reports and forecasts for the general public. During the year requests for information regarding missing motor-cars were made on 456 occasions and 331 appeals for information as to the whereabouts of missing persons. One hundred and sixty-seven appeals were made on behalf of charity. Publication of Programmes. After careful preparation the intention of the Government, expressed two years previously, to publish the programmes to be presented from, all National Stations, was put into effect on the 30th June, 1939, with the publication of the New Zealand Listener. This weekly journal has now established itself with the listening public and is serving to extend the listeners' interest in the artists and features of the programmes and making it more possible for the listener to select the type of programme to suit his taste.

4

Item Percentage of Programme-time. Music— Serious .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ., 12-44 Light .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51.79 Modern dance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-87 Old-time dance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-19 Plays and sketches.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5-61 Sporting commentaries .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 1-48 Talks: General; educative (including school broadcasts) .. .. .. 3-73 News, weather and market reports, announcements, &c. .. .. .. 13-80 Church and devotional services .. .. .. .. .. .. 2-24 Children's session .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3-31 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-54 100-00