RADIO GROWTH.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20273, 16 August 1937, Page 3

RADIO GROWTH.

NEW ZEALAND LICENSES. OVER QUARTER OF MILLION. j Radio broadcasting is a comparatively new development which New Zealanders have adopted with great readiness, the figures of growth in licenses during the last ten years being remarkable and comparing favourably with those of many more thickly populated countries. Radio | licenses in force on June 30 reached i the record figure of 258,324, which j includes 255,434 receivers (listeners), 1212 dealers, 1)75 experimental (amateur and research) and 683 free | licenses granted to blind persons. How the totals have grown in ten years is shown by the following de- I tails of the receiving licenses in force \ as at June 30 in succeeding years:— 1928, 34,434; 1929, 42,453; 1930, 50.095: 1931, 57,513; 1932, 73,216; 1933, 94,813; 1934, 129.146; 1935, 163,108: 1936, 206,562; 1937, 256,117. I Distribution of Licenses. The latest total shows that the growth of the past year amounts to 49,555 licenses. The distribution ->f the receivers’ (listeners’) licenses at present is as follows: Wellington district. 91.932; Auckland district, 82,173; Cantcrburv district, 46,999; Otago district. 35.0 13. It is estimated that 72 per cent of New Zealand households arc equipped with radio receivers. An accelerated rate of growth is demonstrated by the latest figures, the increase in licenses during the first six months of last year having been 23,675. while ( during the first six months of this j J vear licenses have risen in numbers j by 25,731.