F—3

Other programmes of serious music included the relay of " The Beggar's Opera,' presented by the Christchurch Civic Music Council, the Palestrina " Missa Papae .Marcelli," presented by the Schola Cantorum at Wellington, and a special evening programme marking the opening of the Edinburgh Festival of Music. Light Music, Variety, and Bands Light music maintained its place in popular favour, and overseas and local sources .again provided many programmes. More local artists and groups were included in variety and light musical programmes, and during the year two Auckland novelty combinations toured the southern stations. Special sessions of light entertainment using local talent were inaugurated in Auckland and Wellington. Others of the same type were " Around the Town," " The Musical Friends," and " Hometown Variety." Provided sufficient local talent of broadcast standard is available, the Service hopes to extend the scope of light programmes of this kind. Regular weekly sessions of dance music by local bands were presented from the four main National stations, and additional dance programmes were compiled from the best overseas recordings. Light opera and musical comedy programmes obtained from overseas were broadcast during the year. By special arrangement with the copyright-holders, recorded Gilbert and Sullivan operas were broadcast, and, in addition, the 8.8.C. recorded programme " Gilbert and Sullivan " was presented from several stations. . Among the variety programmes heard during the year were the Cicely Courtneidge programme, arranged during the visit of this artist to New Zealand and presented on a link of the main National and Commercial stations ; the Wilfred Pickles audience participation show " Have a Go," and the 8.8.C. comedy " Much-Binding-in-the-Marsh," which has replaced the " Itma " programme. An all-New-Zealand variety programme, " Christmas Crackers," was broadcast during the Christmas season. During the winter there were broadcasts of community singisg and programmes by brass and pipe bands. Special radio coverage was provided for the New Zealand Brass Band Contest which was held in Auckland in February. News and Commentaries The daily overseas and New Zealand news broadcast at 9.04 p.m. was continued throughout the year. The overseas portion of this bulletin is .compiled by the Service from several sources, including Press Association cablegrams ; the New Zealand news comes mainly from the Information Section of the Prime Minister's Department. When the importance of the news warrants, special broadcasts are made during the day. For instance, listeners were kept posted of the progress of the Balclutha floods and of the searches for two missing airliners. The tornado that struck Hamilton in August was reported in a series of bulletins which included spoken reports from broadcast observers on the spot. Similar reports from flood protection workers were included in the relays from Balclutha. All stations broadcast progress returns of the results of the Licensing and Off-course Betting Polls. Weekly news features which followed the overseas and New Zealand news for the greater part of the year included the News in Maori, " Australian Commentary," and " United Nations Background." A weekly New Zealand commentary on the international news, " Lookout," was introduced towards the end of the year, and a new international feature " Unesco World Review " replaced " United Nations Background." The 8.8.C " World Affairs " commentary was again rebroadcast each week. News bulletins from the 8.8.C. were rebroadcast from the main National stations five times each day. ;c Home News from Britain " was included in the 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. xebroadcasts, and a news analysis from the 8.8.C. was rebroadcast daily at 11.10 p.m.

3