Electronic earful

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 1

Electronic earful

This space-age toy, demonstrated in Colombo Street yesterday by Miss Robin Delaney, may become illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill now before Parliament.

The bill provides imprisonment for any person “who invites any other person to obtain, or who offers for sale any listening device that he knows is specially designed or adapted for the surreptitious interception of private communications, and has no other useful purpose." The “sonic ear gun” shown above is one of the first toys to arrive in the new selection for next Christmas.

The plastic gadget, powered by one small battery, is capable of picking up a conversation from about 30m, The gun is one of a series of electronic toys being manufactured by a Wellington firm, Fortuna Agencies. In spite of its $39 price tag, one Christchurch toy seller is sure the toy will be a big seller. Mr D. Britten, owner of Kiddy Toy Centre, said the toy Industry had experienced a boom

over the last two years, and it was amazing how readily parents spent large sums on increasingly sophisticated toys. Mr Britten expects a new range of about 300 toys to arrive in the shops next month. “Each year you think it has probably reached the limit; there won’t be much next year. But every year there seems to be hundreds more toys.” he said. A lot more “exclusive”

toys, especially remotecontrolled and electronic items, would be imported this year, he said. About three-quarters of his toys were imported. The range from the Wellington company will include a walkie-talkie helmet, a synthesiser, and a spelling computer. Already on the shelves is a spaceage construction set, a “souped-up” version of the old Meccano set.

However, the familiar

toys, including model cars, word games, military models, and creative games were still popular, Mr Britten said.

The bill refers specifically to the kind of bugging devices referred to by Mr M. J. Minogue (Nat., Hamilton West) during debate in Parliament when the bill was returned from the Statutes Revision Committee. These include pinhead and postage-stamp sized receivers and transmitters. The definition of a listening-device is wide, and would include a taperecorder. But intention has a prime importance. The prohibition on the use of any listening device is to intercept intentionally any private communication by means of a listening device. It does not apply where the person intercepting the communication is party to the conversation. Therefore there is a prohibition on dealing in, having for sale, or having in possession devices specially designed or adapted for surreptitious interception of private communications, and for no other purpose. Also, there is a prohibition on the use of a listening device for surveillance. When he introduced the bill, the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) said that it was designed to protect personal privacy by limiting and qualifying the use of listening devices.