C.B. saints or sinners?

Press, 15 June 1979, Page 1

C.B. saints or sinners?

The aim of Citizens’ Band radio “saboteurs" was to clean up C.B. radio because Post Office radio inspectors would not, said a saboteur yesterday. It was also to lead Christchurch radio inspectors a merry dance because they were not doing their job, he said. But the Post Office describes the operators’ claims as rubbish. The man, who asked not to be named in case he lost his job. said that he was one of nine unlicensed C.B. operators, known by licensed users as KZs. Licensed operators have complained that .the KZs wipe out channels, obliterate the Sunday evening two-hour C.B. network programme, play illegal songs, and “hassle” individual operators. The nine Christchurch “pirates” called themselves the KZ Zero Corporation, although the group is not

an incorporated body. They did not use foul language, or cause damage to other persons or property, and left law-abiding C.B. users well alone, the man said.

“We hassle the hasslers only,” he said, “and make sure we are off the air during emergencies.” The man said that KZs sabotaged the Sunday evening network because it was illegal. The radio regulations prohibited general discussion, quizzes, and buy, sell, or exchange programmes—the network format. The regulations stipulated only two operators to a channel, not several hundred; strictly limited lengths of calls; and laid down a correct operating procedure (which operators did not follow), he said. The KZs intended to force the network off the air, because it had forced a Monday night 7 p.m. club bulletin off the air.

“C.B. is not meant to be an amusement device. It was designed for the shortrange exchange of information of an industrial, business, and emergency nature,” the man said. “But rubbish came across much of the time.” KZs turned on overpowered equipment to eliminate operators who ‘‘‘wiped out” others. They were now concentrating on one operator who had threatened other users with violence if they would not stand clear, the man said. The man said that the KZ group was always able to, stay one jump ahead of Christchurch radio inspectors because one KZ was attached to the radio inspectors’ branch. If a blitz was planned, KZs kept their sets well out of sight. The KZ said that the organisation began eight •years ago when a C.B. operator in breach of the law allegedly informed on another operator for a similar breach. The informant was granted immunity; the other had his set confiscated. “Hassling” developed from that point, but the reasons changed over the years.

The man said that KZs deliberately broke some Post Office radio regulations, partly because they thought them ridiculous, and partly to show how easy it was to stay ahead of Christchurch radio inspectors. However, Mr E. L. McKechie, the Post Office

regional engineer in Christchurch, said yesterday that the KZs “cleanup” assertions were “absolute rubbish.” Mr McKechie said that radio inspectors were making a determined effort to catch the KZs and prosecute them. “But the inspectors have a difficult job. They are continually being taunted by the KZs, who sing rude, and sometimes threatening, songs about them,” he said. Mr McKechie said that he had borrowed a C.B. set to listen to the KZs at the week-end. “Their sole aim seems to be to disrupt the activities of licensed users. Their language is foul, and we are- pretty sure they are using illegal, over-powered equipment,” he said. Mr McKechie said that the 3000 C.B. operators in Christchurch represented a very small proportion of radio users, but took a disproportionate time to police. This was partly because the KZs moved about in vehicles constantly, and party because the inspectors were short of staff. “We have not tracked one down yet, but we are making genuine efforts. I would like nothing more than to see one of the KZs in court,” said Mr McKechie.