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In addition to the many notable artists from overseas engaged for the programmes, the Service made full use of the best musical and other talent available in New Zealand. The library of recordings has been kept up to date by the addition of new releases, and it is chiefly through this medium that listeners are enabled to hear the most famous artists and combinations. Throughout the period, eighty-four concerts by musical societies, choirs, &c., were broadcast, and approximately four thousand performances were given by local artists and speakers. Of the artists and combinations from overseas broadcast from the national stations, the following are worthy of mention : Renee Nizan, Grace Adams East, Muriel Lee Petty, Danny Malone, Alexander Kipnis, Lawrence Tibbett, Clement Williams, Maurice Clare, and Josef Kaartinen. Talks. In order to afford listeners the opportunity of hearing authoritative views 011 various subjects, overseas visitors have, wherever possible, been prevailed upon to give broadcast talks. In addition, numerous local speakers have been heard, and a number of interesting debates have been broadcast. The following are some of the speakers from overseas who have been heard from the national studios : Lord Strabolgi, Professor C. L. Bennett, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, Mr. J. A. Fitzpatrick, and Mr. S. K. Ratcliffe. The value of the educational broadcasts to schools is becoming more widely recognized, and during the period an additional 150 schools made use of broadcasts. At 31st March, 1939, there were 1,101 schools and 68,394 pupils participating in these broadcasts. Plays. Plays, which form a fair portion of the programmes, are one of the most popular forms of entertainment, and during the year 1,157 were presented. Among those worthy of mention are " Loyalties," " Old English," " Phillip the King," " The Dark Lady of the Sonnets," " Eden End," and " Hay Fever." Two hundred and nine entries were received for a radio-play-writing competition inaugurated by the Service, and in their remarks the judges stated that there was a general rise in the quality of the plays submitted. Some of the prize-winning plays have already been broadcast from the national stations. Overseas Rebroadcasts. Rebroadcasts of overseas stations bring to the listening public many interesting items that would not otherwise be available, and through this medium listeners were enabled to hear commentaries on interesting events as well as many important speeches. Some of the notable rebroadcasts were speeches at the International Labour Conference, Geneva ; His Majesty the King's speech at the opening of the Glasgow Exhibition ; the launching of the " Queen Elizabeth " by Her Majesty the Queen ; the launching of the battleship " King George V " by His Majesty the King ; the commentary on the ''Louis-Schmelling " fight; commentaries on the Rugby test matches in Australia and the cricket test matches in England. Among speakers heard during rebroadcasts were His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, Earl Baldwin, the Right Hon. Neville Chamberlain, the Right Hon. Montagu Norman, Mr. H. G. Wells, Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth, and Mr. Fred. Perry. News. During the period the Service continued broadcasting the Government news issued by the Prime Minister's office, as well as cable news, market reports, and other information. A special feature during this period was the rebroadcasting of the Daventry news bulletins last September, an arrangement which was made possible through the courtesy of Messrs. Reuters Ltd., and the British Broadcasting Corporation. Special Recorded Programmes. Increased facilities were provided for the recording of special programmes, the demand for these being so great that two recording plants owned and controlled by the Service in Wellington are in almost constant use. Programme Analysis. A dissection of the matter broadcast during the 38,653 transmitting-hours shows that music took up 72-58 per cent, of the broadcasting-time. The following analysis sets out the position in detail: —

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T , Percentage of em " Programme Time. Music — Serious .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14-28 Light .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 53 • 72 Modern danee .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4-37 Old-time dance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0-21 Plays and sketches.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6-34 Sporting commentaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2-18 Talks : General; educative (including school broadcasts) .. .. .. 3-82 News, weather and market reports, announcements, &c. .. .. .. 6-27 Church and devotional services .. .. .. .. .. .. 2-75 Children's session .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4-46 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1-60 100-00