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1941. NE W ZEA L A N I).

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICES (FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH 1941).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly ■pursuant to the Provisions of the Broadcasting Act, 1936.

REPORT. This report is furnished in two sections, the first dealing with the National Broadcasting Service and the second with the National Commercial Broadcasting Service. SECTION I.—NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE. I have the honour to submit the following report on the operations of the National Broadcasting Service for the period Ist April, 1940, to 31st March, 1941. Receiving Licenses. The increase in the number of radio licenses issued is smaller this year, being 9,770, as against an increase of 27,097 recorded the previous year. Such a reduction in the annual rate of increase was to be expected now that so large a proportion of the houses in the Dominion are equipped with wireless-receiving sets. To-day approximately 86 per cent, of the houses in the Dominion are equipped with wireless-receiving sets. The increases in licenses during the past ten years are shown hereunder : —

The ratio of licenses to population is higher in New Zealand than in any other country of the Empire.

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Number of j Increase for Licenses. | Year. 31st December, 1930 .. .. .. .. 60,162 31st December, 1931 .. .. .. .. 71,453 11,291 31st December, 1932 .. .. .. .. 88,993 17,540 31st December, 1933 .. .. .. .. 113,053 24,060 31st December, 1934 .. .. .. .. 148,284 35,231 31st December, 1935 .. .. .. .. 183,830 35,546 31st December, 1936 .. .. .. .. 231,364 47,534 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. 242,306 58,476* 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. 286,057 43,751 31st March, 1939 .. .. .. 318,613 32,556 31st March, 1940 .. 345,710 27,097 31st March, 1941 .. .. .. .. 355,480 9,770 * Increase for fifteen months.