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Parliamentary Broadcasts. throughout the year the proceedings of Parliament were again broadcast, and the transmissions continued to create a good deal of interest. Outside Broadcasts. Among the many relays arranged of interesting events within the Dominion were the arrival of the Right Hon. the Prime Minister in Wellington Harbour on his return from England, the inauguration of the Wellington-Auckland Air Service, the opening of the new Wellington Railway-station, the arrival of the Pan-American Clipper, the arrival of the " Centaurus," the arrival and departure of Flying-Officer Clouston, and the opening of the new Post-office at Dunedin. Sporting Broadcasts. Interest in sporting broadcasts was fully maintained, the visit of the South African Rugby team creating great enthusiasm. Commentaries were broadcast on 145 Rugby matches, 105 wrestling matches, and 33 boxing matches. Racing and trotting meetings were dealt with on 137 occasions, whilst swimming, cricket, tennis, and athletic events were broadcast frequently. Private Broabcasting Stations. During the year sixteen private stations were purchased, at a total cost of £18,081 19s. Id. There are now five stations being subsidized by Government and five stations owned by Government being operated under contract. Special Services. Talks on gardening, hints to motorists, and reviews of books were broadcast regularly. Three hundred and seventy-four requests were broadcast for information regarding missing persons or persons required on account of the serious illness of relatives, 352 requests for information regarding missing motor-vehicles, and 195 appeals were made oil behalf of charity. Weather reports for aviators, farmers, and the general public were broadcast regularly. Technical. Good progress has been made in the provision of stations to give a first-grade coverage to the Southland and Hawke's Bay districts. Early in the year, after thorough technical tests were conducted, sites were selected for both stations. Tenders were called for the equipment, and Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Ltd., secured the contracts for both transmitters, the power in each case being 5 kilowatts. The aerial system to be used is a recent Marconi development termed a " folded top " aerial, and is supported from two towers each about 300 ft. high. The system is designed to give the maximum coverage free from distortion. The Southland transmitting station is in the Township of Dacre, about twelve miles by air-line north-east of Invercargill, while the Hawke's Bay one is at Opapa, about twelve miles south-west of Hastings. Good progress is being made with the transmitter building and the residence at Dacre, and it is expected that the new station will be operating by August next. Due to unavoidable causes, there was some delay in commencing building-operations at Opapa, and consequently it does not seem likely that it will be possible to open the new station there before November next. Station 2YC, which for some years has been operating on a power of 0-2 kilowatt, was increased in power to 5 kilowatts early in the year under review. The transmitter used for this station is that formerly carrying 2YA's programme. The redesign and transfer to the Titahi Bay site was undertaken by the staff of this Department. The transmitter of 0-2 kilowatt formerly used for 2YC commenced operating at Wellington under the call-sign 2YD. Following the purchase by Government of 4ZP, a temporary transmitter of more modern design, having a power of 0-1 kilowatt, was installed at Invercargill to serve until the new 5 kilowatts transmitter is brought into use. A new transmitter having a power of 0-75 kilowatt was arranged for Station IZM, Auckland, and installed at Henderson, being controlled from the main studio "building in Shortland Street. This replaces the station formerly operated from Manurewa. Financial Report. Balance-sheet. The Balance-sheet, duly audited by the Controller and Auditor-General, and the Revenue Account appear at the end of this report. Included in the capital expenditure was an amount of £30,630 for the purchase of land at Dacre and Opapa, the purchase of studio and office buildings at Christchurch and Invercargill, and partpayments on the equipment for the new Southland transmitting station. To provide for capital commitments, £75,000 was invested temporarily on the Ist May, 1937. During the year £98,975 4s. lOd. was advanced to the Commercial Broadcasting Service and £29,975 19s. 7d. was deposited by that Service to the Broadcasting Account. The net advances to the Commercial Service at the 31st March, 1938, amount to £80,269 19s. 6d., which includes £1] ,270 14s. 3d. net advances prior to 31st March, 1937.' Revenue Account. Due partly to the increased transmitting-hours and partly to the operation of additional stations, programme expenditure increased at the rate of £34,800 per annum, and maintenance costs at the rate of £14,000 per annum. The same rates of depreciation have been maintained as previously. The satisfactory results obtained throughout the year are due in no small measure to the efficient service given by the staff at the Head Office and the district offices. James Shelley, Director of Broadcasting.

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