RADIO “PIRATES”

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 10

RADIO “PIRATES”

CLOGGING WHEELS OF PROGRESS

UNPAID REGISTRATION FEES

The growing popularity of ratio broadcasting in New Zealand cannot be stated exactly in terms of those in possession of receiving sets, as it is known that many owners of sets have neglected to register, and stand in daily peril of prosecution on this account. It is true that radio dealers are required to report the names and addresses of all persons who purchase sets, but there arc numbers of "pirates” who make up a set by purchasing the requisite parts here and there, and do so deliberately with the object of evading the 80s. annual registration fee.

The official view of such people is that they are clogging the wheels of progress in the matter of improving the broadcasting programmes, as obviously the more people who evade the fee, the less money is available to expend on a better class of performing artist. On the other’ hand, there are those who argue that if the programmes were improved, the “pirates” would cease their piracy (by paving up). Only the other day a j. C. Williamson company, whilst in Auckland, was quite prepared to allow parts of its performance to be broadcasted, and named a reasonable fee for the privilege, but the finances of the Broadcasting Company would not permit' of an arrangement being made. Up till the end of last month the number of ' licensed dealers in radio material in New Zealand was SG6.