BROADCASTING CONTRACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 95, 21 April 1923, Page 7

BROADCASTING CONTRACT.

A MONOPOLY GRANTED. RESTRICTION OF LICENSES. THE ' LISTENING-IN" PIRATES. (By Cable-. -Tress Association.—Copyright. - ) ißc'-civo.! !i v.in.l LONDON, April 20. The Pustmastcr-t'cneral (Sir YV. .loyn-son-llicks), in the House of Commons, related the circumstances of a curious position llitit litis arisen in regard to wireless broadcasting. He explained that under an agreement made by bis predecessor lie could only grant broadcasting licenses wilh the proviso that the users must use an instrument marked."British Broadcast ing ( otupany," but he could issue experimental licenses without this condition. The j,resent position was Unit. ST.blil broadcasting and 3ii, :tS."i experimenters' licenses had been issued. Further. 3:5,000 applications for experimenters - licenses had been received. It was probable that lit,lf a million people were anxious to take mil license., if they eon 1,1 pet those they wanted. The company complained thai experimenters were usiiip homo-made instruments to ■•listenin" to concerts without paying a license fee. which', in Die ease of broadcasting. w<is shared between the (iovorimienl and 1 he company. Sir \\b .liiynsnn-llicks said he was not prepared (.. accept the company's \ iew tbat be should issue experimenters' licenses with the proviso tbat. the instrument parts should In- of their manufacture. He was willing to stipulate British manufacture, lull this proposal the company had declined. The law officers of the Crown had advised him thai he was compelled to grant the applications of genuine experimenters, therefore, he was submitting tbe 33.000 applications to the staff of experts, and if genuine they would be granted, lie also would appoint a committee to consider the whole question, which had become on,, of monopoly. Mr. .1. l'anisnv Mac Donald (Labour lender) said tbe House was amazed that such a contract should exist, and such a deadlock be created.- IA. and X.Z.)