Reduced from 30/- to 25/-

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 23, 14 December 1934, Page 6

Reduced from 30/- to 25/-

Listeners’ Pockets to Benefit from New License Fees — ‘THE Post and Telegraph Department has announced its Xmas box for New Zealand listeners-or perhaps Easter gift would be more correct. From, April 1,°1935, the radio license fee is to be reduced from 30/- to 25/-, announced the Postmaster-General (Hon. Adam Hamilton) at the week-end. This step has been under consideration for some time and it has now been decided that the New Zealand broadcasting service is sufficiently well established to enable the reduction to be made. _ Mr. Hamilton said the New Zealand Broadcasting Board had shown a spirit of co-operation in the proposal by agreeing ‘to accept a reduction of 2/- in the amount payable to the board in respect of each license. As listeners were no doubt aware, the board had, since inception on January 1, 1932, undertaken large developmental plans both in respect of building and apparatus. Obviously, this progressive programme absorbed a large. amount of capital, but these financial commitments would not, of course, be recurring ones. An outline of the comparative increase in the number of licenses since the Broadcasting Board took control on January 1, 1932, was given by Mr. Hamilton. On that date, he said, the number of radio receiving licenses was 71,680. At October 31 last, the number was 139,690. The contribution by the hoard amounting to 2/- for each full license would, therefore, he by no. means an inconsiderable one.