Echo Of Paraparaumu Hunt For Radio Pirate

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1949, Page 5

Echo Of Paraparaumu Hunt For Radio Pirate

Press A ssociatinv l

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jime 17. How the nolice, during the search for the radio pirate. located another unlicensed transmittlng station at Paraoaraumu was told in the Ma°istrate's Court today. Norman Edward Vercoe, aged 25, carpenter, pleaded guilty to charges of malntalning apparatus capable of trans- , mitting wireless si°nals with out a I licence and possessing an unlicensed broadcast receiver. On the first charge the Magistrate, Mr. J. S. Hanna, imnosed a fine of £20 and on the second £1. Seiweant Tanner told the court that the charres had no connec|tion w^th the other matters before the court recenfy. 1 _ Fergeant Tanner described how, in ihe course of the search for the radio pirata, he accompaniecl the Benior Radio Inspector to a house in Paraparaumu. In a shed used , as a p'arage thev found a quantity . of radio gear. sets in van'nus stages of repair and tv/o tyne ZC1 transceiving units. One set contained in a tvooden box had the appearance of not being stored awav for any leneth of t.ime. There was no dust on +he oouinment. 1 The inspector was satisfied that set was in a state readv for transwuttinv. ?aid Ser°ea"t Tanner, and he carried. out tests with the apparatus. Fp was ahle to hear it on Ifis receiving set. Leads from an aerial hung nearby. All that had to be do^e was to connent two wires from a transformer and plug in a micronhone. Accuspd dpnipd that at anv time h° had broadcast fr-om a s°t to outside the aarage. but admitted communicatinv from one set to another on the premises.