New Zealand's Wireless Trade

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 47, 7 June 1929, Page 32

New Zealand's Wireless Trade

Potential and Actual Market ‘HE following was published in a recent issue of the "British Bxport Gazette" :- Although the number of wireless receiving sets licensed in New Zealand at December 31 last totalled 42,801. this figure showing an increase of 4616 over 1927, even a brief moment’s consideration of the facts should convince dealers in Auckland, Wellington, etc., and also the manufacturers supplying them, that only the fringe of the market’s possibilities has been touched. At a rough estimate, there are 300,000 dwelling houses in New Zealand today, besides about 1350 hotels and robably 4000 boarding houses, and on this basis, which is a very fair one, ther are therefore something like 305,350 possible customers for wireless sets. As the licenses issued show, only 42,801 of these "possibles" have been persuaded to purchase sets, and thus the "sales field’ still open is. obviously considerable, for only a comparatively small number of occupiers of dwelling houses possess such diminutive incomes as to be unable to purchase a simple set for the purpose of receiving the programmes broadcast from the stations at Auckland, Wellington. Christchurch, and Dunedin. Portabie Sets . Good Line. *PHE type of receiving set now selling in New Zealand varies from the erystal and one or two-valve instruments in use in the urban areas to highér-powered receivers for the. countev districts, and it must be admitted that hitherto sets of United States manufaeture have had it more or less their own way on account of the progressive manner in which their merits have been atlvertised both to the importer and the user. But British sets have lately gained ground. and dealers imxious to tackle the new business awaiting attention might well make inquiries. regarding the extremely cfficient portable four. and five-valve sets which a number of British manufacturers are now producirg at a price which enables them to be retailed at well under £20 for the complete outfiut. As the New Zealander is fond of camping out, and of open-air life generally, it should be easy for the local dealer to work up an important demand for such portable sets. In the case of sets

fux indoor use, it should be remember-/ ed that the percentage of the dwellings in New Zealand equipped with electricity is extremely high, and that receivers which will work off the mains are likely to be popular. A reasonablypriced battery eliminator is also a sure seller. The market, however, is wide, and almost every modern receiver and accessory is saleable-a fact. which makes it the more surprising that the 1411 wireless dealers in New Zealand registered at the end of last year have only succeeded in selling some 42,800 sets in a field where at the very least 200,000 should be in use.