Our Mail Bag

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 40, 19 April 1929, Page 31

Our Mail Bag

"No Growls." NOTHDER year gone and I wish to tender my thanks for the splendid programmes broadcast from the YA stations; also for the very interesting "Radio Record." The last twelve months I haven’t a thing to growl about, and I know that I am having another year of good enjoyment coming. Good luck to the N.Z.B.C. and

carry on-

E. C.

Petersen

(Ngarua-

wahia

A Dealer’s Protest. Rae a reader of your paper since 5 it first appeared in print, and a radij’ dealer before that time and since, I would like to add mf protest to other small and country dealers’ protests against the very drastic and unfair increase. in dealer's’ license fees. Drastic because from what I can see it will do a fair amount of harm to the cause of radio through lost listeners and revenue. That is, if my locality is. any indication of other country places, as quite a few of the listeners here are talking of the expense of getting a man from town when the receiver refuses to function or sending tlie set to town, and probably some of them will not continue to be listeners. And I think you will agree with me when I say that radio rather needs to be nursed than hampered. Then there is the fact that the people in the country are those who should and would go in for receivers, and the country dealer is the man that is helping to establish radio in the country. Unfair because. the increase is aiming to put the small man out of.the- business, and also because the increase is not fair in itself as I will show. Up until now the licenses have been on the population basis, viz., city £10, small towns £5, others £2. Now the city is £15, small towns £7 10s., others £4.10s., an increase of 50 per cent. in the city and small towns, but 250 per cent. in the ease of others. Now, Sir, is it fair to ‘put an increase of 250 per cent. on to the man with the smallest amount of turnover and only 50 per cent. on the man with a big turnover? Unless, of course, you want to squash the small man. . a a ee

In one paragraph in your paper you give reasons for this increase as 4 means of reducing the number of dealers, and especially cutting out the back door man. By this I suppose you mean the man who takes out a dealer’s license for the purpose of securing a discount, and also to get sets and parts cheap for his friends and relations ; but I think this is a poor argument, as, as far as I can see, the back door has now been opened wide. Then in another place you say the prime factor for the increase is the patent tax. Well, if this is so, it only further condemns the whole thing as trying to make the small man pay more than his share, and this increase must be passed on to the public and so the country listener is penalised. I don’t think for a minute that myself or any of the other numerous country dealers would have minded if the increase had been in proportion, say, £3; at the same time it would. have had the effect of stopping the man that was not any good to the trade and radio in general. I hope to see this aspect of the question given a little space in the "Record," and thanking you in anticipation.-

Small Dealer.

The Auckland Band. HAVE been reading with interest the controversy between the N.Z. R.B. Company and the Auckland City Council re the Auckland Municipal Band. Now, Sir, this is a very good combination of musicians, and though I am like everyone else, and like to get as much as possible for my thirty shillings, I am very pleased at the stand the R.B. Company have taken, and trust they stick to it. I am a regular listener-in on band programmes and flatter myself I know something of band work, and while the company can get the Auckland Artillery Band for broadcast purposes, hereis at least one old bandsman, and who can vouch for a good many more listeners-in, who will be quite satisfied with them for this branch of the entertainment at 1YA. I listened-in from Wellington to 1YA on both occasions the Auckland Artillery Band music was broadcast, and pleased to say the whole concert on both occasions came through splendidly, with the exception of a little fading at times, and I am sure the Auckland Artillery Band pyrogrammes and the rendering thereof compares very favourably with any other band in the Dominion.-36 Years a Bandsman.