Licenses Total 44,690

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 27, 18 January 1929, Page 7

Licenses Total 44,690

Comparison of Yearly Returns

S on January 11 the figures relating to radio licenses, as issued by the Post and Telegraph Department, were:-

An official return (states "The Dominion") shows that at the end of last year there were 42,801 radio receiving licenses on issue in the Dominion, as compared with 38,185 twelve months previously-an increase of 4116 for the year. Transmitting licenses increased in number from 136 to 169, dealers’ licences decreased from 1728 to 1464, and broadcasting licenses, which numbered 7 at the end of 1927, were doubled. In addition, 179 licenses have been issued free to blind listeners, In the aggregate, excluding the free list, the number of licenses has increased during 1928 by 4892. The following table shows the number of receiving, transmission, and dealers’ licenses on issue in the four radio districts at the end of 1928, as compared with 1927, the latter figures being given in parentheses :-

Fewer Dealers, The most significant feature of the above totals is the falling off during the past twelve months in the number of dealers’ licenses-a decrease of 264, or about one-sixth. This is probably attributable to the unduly large proportion of dealers to listeners-in which grew up when the broadcasting novelty was introduced two or three years ago.

It was inevitable that the proportion of one dealer to every 22 licenses which obtained in 1927 would not be maintained, and the decline seems to indicate that many of the dealers are not finding their business sufficiently profitable, as is natural in the circumstances. The biggest drop in the number of dealers’ licenses has occurred in the Wellington district, where apparently 160 have been obliged to cease their operations. Otago Lags Behind. Another conspicuous point about the return is the comparatively small extent. to which Otago people have made use of the broadcasting facilities, despite the fact ‘that Dunedin practically led the way, during the Exhibition, in good broadcasting. During the past year licensees in that area have increased in number by 759, but a smaller increase is shown in Canterbury, where the radio services have gained only 214 new patrons. Auckland has added 759 new enthusiasts to its list, and the popularity of the Wellington programmes would appear to be paramount from the fact that no fewer than 2795 new licensees have been enrolled in the last twelve months, considerably more than have heen gained in the other three districts put together, while the licensees are 2835 more in the aggregate than those in Auckland. A little less than one-half of the free licenses which have been issued to the blind are held in Auckland, where the Jubilee Institute is situated. Of the remainder, the privilege has been extended to 47 persons in Canterbury, and 28 in each of the two other districts. Of the 14 broadcasting licenses, five are held in Otago, four in Wellington, three in Auckland, and two in Canterbury.

Receiving Transmitting Dealers Total AUCKLAND ..... « 14,468 60 421 14,949 WELLINGTON ..... . 17,368 59 603 18,030 CHRISTCHURCH .... 8,246 37 281 8,564 DUNEDIN ......... > 2,958 25 164 3,147 43,040 1,469 44,690 181

. Ree. Trans. Dealers. Auckland .. 14,487 58 420 (18,589) (48) (498) Wellington 17,272 56 601 (14,477) (49) (760) Canterbury .. 8,167 34 280 (7.958) (27) . (301) Otago .... 2,925 21 1638 (2,166) (17) (174) 42.801 169 1464 (88,185) (1386) (1728)