F.—l.

Private Experimental Stations. The number of licenses for the operation of private experimental stations, more familiarly known as amateur transmitting and receiving stations, was 873 at the 31st March, an increase of 77 over the previous year. Radio-dealers' Licenses. On the 31st March, 1935, the number of licensed radio-dealers in the Dominion was 1,214, compared with 1,179 in the previous year. Operation of Unlicensed Sets. The number of persons convicted during the year of operating unlicensed radio apparatus was 1,049, the fines amounting to £641. PRIVATE COMMERCIAL RADIO-STATIONS. During the past year two licenses have been issued for the operation of private commercial radio-stations —a feature of the Radio Regulations not previously invoked. Both of the stations are located in country of an inaccessible nature where communication by other means is impracticable. Although licensed primarily for emergency purposes, the installation of these stations provides evidence that appreciation of the value of radio communication in overcoming isolation is not confined to State Departments or private enterprise engaged primarily in radio activities. A license for a ship-to-shore radio-telephone service was also issued to the Wanganui Harbour Board in order to provide a means of communication between the mainland and ships anchored in the roadstead. A similar service had already been licensed by the Gisborne Harbour Board. DANGER OF PROXIMITY OF WIRELESS AERIALS TO ELECTRIC LINES. During the past year fatal accidents have unfortunately occurred through radio aerials coming into contact with overhead power-lines. In order to bring directly under the notice of listeners the danger to human life due to the proximity of aerials to overhead electric lines, a suitable warning was printed and distributed to listeners in March. In the case of those licensing radio-receiving apparatus for the first time, a similar warning is now attached to the license at the time of issue. It is hoped that these measures will materially assist in preventing fatalities of this nature in future. DEPARTMENTAL TOLL LINES USED FOR BROADCASTING PURPOSES. In connection with its broadcasting service, the New Zealand Broadcasting Board utilized on a number of occasions during the year the overseas radio-telephone service for relays from places beyond the Dominion, and it also makes frequent use of the Department's toll lines for long-distance relays within the Dominion. The" number of relays over departmental toll lines during the year reached over 950, the actual route length of line used being 1,708 miles, while the aggregate length of line involved in such relays was over 120,000 miles. INTERFERENCE WITH BROADCAST RECEPTION. An important step in connection with the work of eliminating electrical interference with broadcast reception was the issue during the year of the Radio Interference Regulations, 1934. Under these regulations the Department is empowered to demand that requisite action be taken by owners or users of electrical equipment to cease causing interference. The regulations make it illegal to install, use, sell, or manufacture any interfering equipment, the term " interfering equipment " being defined as any apparatus or equipment of any kind which may generate electric waves likely to interfere with the conduct of wireless communications. Under these regulations a Radio Inspector may, by notice in writing, require the owner or user of interfering equipment, within a maximum period of thirty days, to take such of the following steps as in the circumstances the Radio Inspector may consider necessary (a) To discontinue entirely the use of such interfering equipment; or (b) To discontinue the use of such interfering equipment otherwise than during hours to be specified in such notice ; or (c) To eliminate, and keep eliminated, the interfering effect of such interfering equipment; or {d) To reduce, and keep reduced, so as to be negligible, the interfering effect of such interfering equipment. Provision is made in the regulations for appeal from the requirements of the Radio Inspector, and such appeals, which must be made within fourteen days of the receipt of the notice, will first be considered by the Minister of Telegraphs who may either decline to allow exemption or refer the appeal to the Advisory Committee for consideration. The regulations further provide that if in the opinion of a Radio Inspector any interference complained of is not an interference with the conduct of wireless communications in general, but only those of a particular station, and either — (a) Can be eliminated or reduced so as to be negligible by an alteration in or modification of the apparatus of such particular station, or by the addition of any appliance or device thereto ; or (b) Is accentuated by any defect in or characteristic of such particular station ; then it shall not be incumbent on the Radio Inspector to issue any notice on the owner or user of the interfering equipment.

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