F.—3

1938. NEW ZEALAND.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICES (FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED 31st MARCH, 1938).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to the Provisions of the Broadcasting Act, 1936.

REPORT. This report is furnished in two sections, the first dealing with the National Broadcasting Service and the second with the National Commercial Broadcasting Service. SECTION I. —NATIONAL BROADCASTING SERVICE. I have the honour to submit the following report on the operations of the National Broadcasting Service for the period Ist April, 1937, to 31st March, 1938. Receiving Licenses. That interest in broadcasting has been fully maintained is evident from the fact that radioreceiving licenses increased by 43,751 during the year. To-day approximately 76 per cent, of the houses in the Dominion are equipped with radio-receiving sets. The increases in licenses during the past eight years are shown hereunder : —

1 -F. 3.

Number of j Increase for Licenses. | Year. 31st December, 1929 .. .. .. .. 50,273 31st December, 1930 .. .. .. .. 60,162 9,889 31st December, 1931 .. .. .. .. 71,453 11,291 31st December, 1932 .. .. .. .. 88,993 17,540 31st December, 1933 .. .. .. .. 113,053 24,060 31st December, 1934 .. .. .. .. 148,284 35,231 31st December, 1935 .. .. .. .. 183,830 35,546 31st December, 1936 .. .. .. .. 231,364 47,534 31st March, 1937 .. .. .. .. 242,306 *58,476 31st March, 1938 .. .. .. .. 286,057 43,751 * Increase for fifteen months.