F.—3

A weekly session, " What do You Think ? " prepared in collaboration with the A.E.W.S., was broadcast to the Forces, intended to promote discussions in New Zealand camps. The broadcast signalling instruction for trainees of the Air Force was continued. In collaboration with the A.E.W.S., literary competitions were promoted among the New Zealand Forces in New Zealand and the Pacific. A large number of entries were received, some of which were high in quality. Music. -Examination of the published programmes will show that, by planning his listening, the New Zealand listener has had available an amount of good music which compares favourably with that -of other broadcasting organizations. Regular programmes of recorded music by the world's leading composers and artists were broadcast, as well as the best available local artists, who provided 2,404 broadcasts, and musical societies, choirs, and bands, which gave 590 recitals. Music by New Zealand composers was broadcast, in which works by Douglas Lilburn were featured. A number of school choirs were broadcast. There were 54 broadcasts of recorded operas. Amongst the overseas artists to broadcast were the English pianist, Andersen Tyrer, and the New-Zealand-born soprano, Madame Margherita Zelanda. Plays and Feature Programmes.—Besides many serial and feature programmes, approximately 100 major dramatic productions were broadcast from the main National stations. Plays presented have covered a wide range, from Shakespearian tragedies to light New Zealand comedies. Works have been presented by the following authors : Arnold Bennett, John Galsworthy, John Masefield, James Hilton, Jefferson Farjeon, J. R. Jeans, as well as several New Zelaand playwrights, including W. Graeme-Holder and Grace Janisch. Of the 227 scripts submitted, 68 were accepted, 47 being by New Zealand authors. Thirty-eight dramatic scripts entitled " Fighters for Freedom " from the New Zealand Office of War Publicity have been produced. Productions were presented each week in the school broadcasts under the titles " Ralph in Shakespeare's England," " Tales by Uncle Remus," and " Susie in Storyland." Several presentations were written and produced by the Service for the 3rd Liberty Loan Campaign, including " From King's Scarlet to Battledress," " Ngarimu the Maori," " The Navy Goes On," " Winged Investments," and " Wings for Victory." Light Music, Variety, and Bands.—Variety programmes from the best 1 overseas recordings and by local artists and companies, were broadcast. Community sings atid special sessions of dance music by New Zealand players from studios and cabarets were featured. Band performances, including those of the R.N.Z.A.F. and bands .from military camps, were broadcast, and variety ■concerts arranged by the Service were relayed from military camps. Considerable variety was added to the programmes by the recorded performances available as a wartime service from the British Broadcasting Corporation, the United States Office of War Information, and the Special Services Division of the United States War Department. These programmes included many outstanding entertainers whose performances would not otherwise have been available. Specially interesting live broadcasts were a number of relays of theatre performances by the Kiwi Concert Party on leave from the Middle East, and a broadcast of Artie Shaw's U.S.A. Naval Band from a camp in New Zealand. Outside Broadcasts.—Relays of events of national interest included the proceedings at the the opening of the Arawa Centennial Memorial at Te Awahau and Ohinemutu; the requiem service in memory of the Right Honourable J. G. Coates ; the requiem mass for the late Bishop Brodie ; receptions throughout the country to Mr. L. W. Brockington, K.C., Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, and Mrs. F. D. Roosevelt; the opening of a Dig for Victory Exhibition and a training centre for disabled servicemen at Wellington by the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable P. Fraser. - Parliamentary Broadcasts. —The proceedings of the House of Representatives were broadcast regularly, with necessary observance of wartime restrictions. The national observance of a minute's silent prayer at 9 p.m. during the chiming of Big Ben was recognized by the members of the House standing while the chimes were broadcast in the chamber. Religious Broadcasts. —Morning and evening services each Sunday, devotional services each week-day morning, and a short wartime prayer service on Wednesday evenings were broadcast. Special intercessory services as requested by His Majesty the King and monthly citizens' intercessory services were also relayed. The broadcasting of the chimes of Big Ben at 9 p.m. each •evening for the observance of silent prayer was continued. A short talk by Archbishop West-Watson on the election manifesto issued by the Campaign for Christian Order, together with eight five-minute talks by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Forces everywhere, were relayed by the main stations. A series of 8.8.C. talks by British Church leaders was also broadcast. The thanks of the Service are due to the Central Religious Advisory Committee and to the local Church Committees for their valuable co-operation in the arrangement and conduct of religious broadcasts. Broadcasts for Schools.—The broadcasts to schools, during 1943-44 were organized on a national basis. Policy was determined by a committee representing the National Broadcasting Service, the Education Department, and the New Zealand Educational Institute. During 1943 there were four half-hour broadcasts to primary schools each week. These sessions were divided into talks, history through literature (dramatized), rhythm for juniors, and music. Owing to the paper shortage, booklets were not supplied to pupils, but a music booklet was issued to each teacher. A total of 1,106 schools (about 79,500 pupils) listened to these broadcasts. A new series of French programmes was broadcast, and a booklet was issued—one cojty to -each two pupils. One hundred and forty-six secondary schools (6,570 pupils) utilized these broadcasts.

3