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Until the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific area, the monitoring of certain enemy stations was continued, and transcriptions of their broadcasts were supplied to the authorities concerned. News and Commentaries'. —The year under review is specially memorable for broadcasts recorded in this country of the closing stages of the war in Europe and Asia, culminating in the surrender of the enemy. Through broadcast news and commentaries, people were able to follow the invasion of Germany and the approach to Japan. On YE Day the Service was linked with the world, and our stations broadcast all through the night. Listeners heard the news of Germany's surrender, and commentaries on events in Britain, the dominions, and other Allied countries as soon as the news broke. The Eight Hon. Winston Churchill's broadcast announcing the cessation of hostilities in Europe was followed by that of the Eight Hon. W. Nash, Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Proclamation by His Excellency the Governor-General was heard later in the day, and there were broadcasts of Citizens' Thanksgiving Services and the playing of the Wellington Carillon. Later there followed His Majesty the King's message to his people, and the magnificent 8.8.C. special feature, " Salute to the King." The actual surrender to Field-Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery in Northern Germany was broadcast. Stations also remained on the air throughout the night following the news of the surrender of Japan, and broadcasts were mad.e of His Majesty's speech to the Empire, and addresses by the Eight Hon. C. E. Attlee and the Eight Hon. P. Fraser. The national ceremony of thanksgiving was relayed. Through the American Broadcasting System, listeners were able to hear what happened on the quarterdeck of U.S.S. " Missouri" when General Mac Arthur met the Japanese envoys and the terms of surrender were signed. On both YE and YJ Days the National and Commercial networks cancelled their scheduled programmes and substituted others specially appropriate to the occasion. When the news of the death of President Eoosevelt was received, programmes were interrupted to enable the news to be broadcast, and later a tribute was broadcast by the Eight Hon. W. Nash, Acting Prime Minister. Ceremonies in connection with the burial of the late President were also broadcast. Later, President Truman's address to Congress and his message to the United States Armed Forces were heard. Through the continued courtesy of the British Broadcasting Corporation news bulletins, commentaries and talks have been rebroadcast over the main National and Commercial networks. Towards the end of the year the number of regular rebroadcasts of London news was drastically curtailed. These now amount to five per day. The main National stations have continued rebroadcasting daily the 8.8.C. " Eadio Newsreel." By arrangement with the United States Office of War Information, the feature " American Commentary and News" was rebroadcast five nights a week from San Francisco by the main National stations. Australian news cabled daily by the Australian Broadcasting Commission was incorporated in the 9 p.m. newsreel. The N.B.S. Newsreel, which included news by courtesy of the daily newspapers, sports results, and market reports, continued to be broadcast. Special bulletins concerning the E.N.Z.A.F. in the Pacific, supplied by the Air Department, were also included in the Newsreel. A weekly summary of overseas news in Maori by certain North Island stations was also broadcast. The broadcast each Wednesday night of an Australian commentary was inaugurated by the High Commissioner for Australia, the Hon. H. T. D'Alton. The New Zealand news broadcast at 9.30 each evening to the Pacific was transferred from Station 2YA to 2YC. Short-wave broadcasts of this news bulletin from the Post Office Station ZLT7 continued.

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