PRIVATE "AERO" PLANT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1828, 14 August 1913, Page 5

PRIVATE "AERO" PLANT.

♦ BY HIGH SCHOOL BOY. DISCOVERY AND PROSECUTION. (By Telegraph-Press Association.) Hastings, August 13. A case of considerable interest was heard at the Court this morning, -when Uric 11. I3at.tcrsh.ill was charged that, on Juno 1, he did establish a plant for the purposo of receiving communications by wireless telegraphy without having obtained the consent of tlio PostmasterGeneral. Defendant, who was represented by Mr. 11. 1). Seamiell, pleaded guilty. Mr. 11. A. Cornford, who prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, said that, somo time in .Time Inst, a "fault" was detected on the telegraph wires at Hastings, and, ou the llnesnion investigating, it was found that a wireless apparatus had been installed by the defendant, who was a High School lx>y, for the prosecution of his study of electricity. His apparatus for receiving wireless messages from places within n thirty males radius—not so arranged as to bo able to reply, but for purposes of receiving—was perfect. Defendant was liable ■to a penalty .of ,£SOO. It was a matter of great importance, insomuch as what the boy was doing for his own instruction might lxs done by persons of great intelligence for reasons serious to the country and Empire, such as the interception of wireless messages from overseas. The danger of such plots was that they might produce results of the utmost gravity, and it would be advisable for the State to make i public fclio poualty. Mr. Sonnnell stated that defendant was ei Napbr Iligh School boy, and part of his ordinary education had to do with electricity. It had been said that it was possible "for such an apparatus to do harm to the State, but lis did not see what harm could result if permission wero being given to use such an apparatus within a radius of thirty miles. A mountain was being made out of a molehill. In Australia permission was given, and it was-difficult to understand why it had not bec.ii given in New Zealand. The statute only served to > stultify t boys' talent. IJovs took an interest in this important development, but were ordered by the State to withdraw, and, in this respect, New Zealand was hidebound as no other country wa°. Counsel desired tint attention be drawn to the matter, so that what was wrong from a moral point of view might be remedied. The lad would bow to the decision of the authorities, ami have his apparatus dismantled. The magistrate said that the law was there, and would have to bo obeyed. There was something to l>e said in favour of tho statute. For instance, in a caso where a messago of a vital character was being transmitted, not only between one Department of Tho State and another, but containing private information, and, if tins was intercepted, harm could bo t done. That was the reason for the passing of the Act. Defendant had promised not to uso his ouoaratus aj?ain, and lie; wouhl l)o convicted and ordered to como'lip for f.Giit'Piico Avlion called upon. Ihe lnil ho<i been cncouraged by his teachers. No order for costs was made.