Topical Matters

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 21, 6 December 1929, Page 9

Topical Matters

"TTANDY ANDY" (Wellington South) writes interestingly: "I do not beYieve that the advent of the a.c. set will eyer decrease the howling valve nuisance, and I cannot share Mr. Blackwood’s optimism in that respect. The a.c. system cannot supersede the one or two-valve set built by youths who eannot afford the cost of an a.c. power pack. : The amateur builder of these sets can purchase his dry battery power for less than £2 10s., and there will never be a complete a.c. power pack (A, B, and C) available at anything like that price. It is these one or twovalve outfits which make listening hideous for other listeners. No, I cannot see any hope of relief from the growing popularity of the a.c. set." ' LISTENER who operates his set without obtaining a license is nothing less than a common thief. He is not only stealing from the Broadedsting Company and the Government, ets he is perpetrating a» dishonest act towards his fellow listeners. Let him consider for 2 moment that broadcast listeners have a community of interest, and that the more licenses there are the greater the amount of money available for the programmes. This is in reply to a correspondent who asks advice concerning his attitude towards a neighbour who is talking of avoiding _ payment of the license fee. The German Government terms these "pirates" "schwarzhorer,"’ which means "black: hearer’-an apt designation.