RADIO RECEIVERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 207, 1 September 1932, Page 10

RADIO RECEIVERS.

PRICE IN NEW ZEALAND.

"CHEAPER THAN IN ENGLAND"

STATEMENTS CONTRADICTED.

Statements made on Tuesday by an Auckland importer concerning the high cost of radio receivers in New Zealand were contradicted this morning by Mr. E. E. Boucher, managing director of Radio, Limited, and president of the Auckland Provincial Eadio Traders' Association. "First, the statement that it costs 150 per cent to land an American receiver on the New Zealand market ia incorrect," said Mr. Boucher. "The landing charges, including duty,, on the average lowpriced mantel receiver is approximately 71 per cent, and on a ; console receiver about 90 per cent. The difference in the retail price of a receiver in America compared with that asked in New Zealand is largely accounted for by the sterling conversion situation and the high rate of exchange." In reference to the statement that a petition, signed by all leading importers of radio receivers and many leading radio dealers, was to bo forwarded to the Minister of Customs, Mr. Boucher said that the matter had not yet come before the Eadio Traders' Association, which, in fact, was unaware of any such movement. "Another incorrect statement made by your informant was that British receivers are not sold on this market because their wave-length is not suitable," he said. "All British manufacturers will supply receivers covering the New Zeahind waveband. The real reason for the British receiver not being found on this market is that it is entirely unsuited for our conditions and is too high in price." Mr. Boucher ateo contradicted the statement that unless something was done to reduce the duty the cost of radio receivers to the New Zealand public would increase. "That is not so. The price of receivers has been steadily reduced, even despite the abnormal conversion situation, and prices in New Zealand are lower than in England and Australia. It is to be hoped that the cheap, inferior American product mentioned in the report from Sydney will not make ite appearance on this market." It appeared, said Mr. Boucher, that there was some misunderstanding in the report from Sydney tliat six-valve- receivers retailed in America at about £7 10/ cost £37 10/ in Sydney. In Sydney and Melbourne a first-cloes eix-valve console receiver retailed at about £25, and a receiver costing £37" 10/ would be an elaborate one, incorporating an expensive chassis and elaborate cabinet work. The receiver mentioned ae retailing in America at about £7 10/ would be a cheap form of mantel receiver, not comparable to the console. Eecent reports from the United States, said Mr. Boucher, showed tliat tremendous over-production had taken place there. It was safe- to say that a considerable percentage of the receivers .produced in Amerioa were entirely un6uitable for New Zealand conditions. Aβ America had over-produced for her own market the only outlet was other markets of the world, and it wae there that the receivers were now being dumped. Warnings 'had recently been issued to prospective buyers of receivers in New Zealand to beware of the dumped set. Whilst it might'appear efficient it wae unreliable, and replacement parts, would not be forthcoming, as the majority of the email manufacturers who were dumping their goods outside- America would eoon be all out of business.