RADIO LICENSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 77, 31 March 1928, Page 11

RADIO LICENSES.

RUSH TO REGISTER. LONG QUEUE THIS MORNING. COMPLAINT ABOUT DEPARTMENT METHODS.

All through the morning a long line of radio fans trouped up the stairs of the Chief Post Office to the third floor and waited impatiently in a queue to relicense their sets. To-day was the Jast day of relicensing, and, as usual, there was a big last-minute rush.

Officials of the relicensing department would not say definitely how many licenses had been put through up to date, although they admitted that they had a fairly accurate estimate up till yesterday. They said that any statement would have to come from the secretary of the Department. All they could say was that a fair percentage of the number in Auckland to be done had been put through. Many complaints were heard down at the radio relicensing bureau this morning. Indignant fans made their voices heard, expressing very firmly their annoyance at the methods of the Department.

"J.A.D.," a working man, who says he cannot afford to pay out 30/ all at once, mentioned this aspect of the relicensing question: "Ever since I have had a set, I have taken out my license quarterly. Yesterday I went down to relicense, and was told that I could not take it out quarterly, unless I had a reasonable case. They would not relicense me for three months, and told me to see one of the inspectors. I went down at the only time I have to spare—between 12 and one —and they were all out. However, I got in touch with them by 'phone, and they told me that if I had a good case tliey would grant me a quarterly license. It is plain that a man has to plead poverty before he can get his three m °"^'- license - 1 aff o r d to pay out 30/ in one lump, and there are dozens like me in the same position. It's not a fair thing to those people who have rigged up femall sets and regard radio "J AD" ° n,y f ° rm of am usement," said An official in/the radio relicensing part the Post and Telegraph Department explained that if it was made open for everybody to take out quarterly licenses LfK Pf rcen , t . a g e of people would not bother to relicense for a whole year. Thus, the work of the relicensing department would be about four times as great.

I Q ;Vi 10Ug r \ day was Bet do «-n as the last day of relicensing, there will be a £ v* °{ grace * iven t( > listenersin who ba\e not re-regigtered.