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The 8.8.C. Transcription Service supplied very unusual classical programme material; outstanding works received from this source, and presented by the National stations, included a complete series of modern British Chamber music, the Ballet Suite, " Corroboree," by the Australian composer, John Antill, and compositions by Alfred Hill and Douglas Lilburn, of New Zealand. Although no new disks have been received from the American Office of War Information, Overseas Branch, for some time, the existing programmes in this series still held by the Service were often used by National stations. During United Nations' Week, 1947, the Legations, the High Commissioners' Offices, and the various national societies situated in Wellington co-operated by supplying records of music by their national composers for incorporation in appropriate programmes. Light Music, Variety, and Bands Light music continued in popular demand, and many programmes were presented from overseas and local sources. An increasing number of local artists and combinations were included in variety and light music programmes. Light operas and musical ■comedies were broadcast. Additional programmes of this type are becoming available in recorded form from the 8.8.C. and other overseas sources. By special arrangement with the copyright-holders, Gilbert and Sullivan operas were again broadcast. Comedy shows such as " Itma," recorded by the 8.8.C., were again a feature of many variety programmes. During the winter community' sings were broadcast, and there were regular broadcasts by brass and pipe bands. Special weekly sessions of dance music by local dance bands were presented by the four main National stations, and additional dance programmes were compiled from the best overseas recordings. News and Commentaries The British Broadcasting Corporation's bulletins continued to be the main source •of overseas news, there being five rebroadcasts of such bulletins each day. At 6.45 p.m. the 8.8.C.'s Radio Newsreel was rebroadcast, although occasionally this feature was replaced by a talk of particular local interest. Reports of world events for the daily broadcast at 9.4 p.m., " Overseas and New Zealand News " were supplied by the New Zealand Press Association, the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and the British Broadcasting Corporation. New Zealand news was supplied mainly by the Information Section of the Prime Minister's Department. "When important news " broke " during the day special bulletins were broadcast. Increased use was made of the periods between 7 and 7.15 p.m. for broadcasting local news and interviews separately from each of the YA stations. New portable tape-recording equipment was a great asset in the development of this work. North Island National stations devoted twenty minutes, instead of ten minutes as formerly, to the Sunday evening broadcast of news in Maori. A session of news for farmers was broadcast from the main National stations every Thursday night; and the weekly Australian Commentary (supplied by courtesy of the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth) remained a regular item on Wednesday nights. Two sessions of background news, one international and one domestic, were added to programmes towards the end of the year : " United Nations Background" on Mondays at 9.20 p.m., and " Provincial Letter "on Fridays at the same time. For the former, the Service is indebted to the Radio Division of the United Nations and the ■Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The chief of several sources from which these broadcasts were compiled was a short-wave transmission by the Canadian Broadcasting •Corporation of news and reviews supplied by the United Nations from Lake Success.

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