RADIO LICENSES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 92, 12 January 1929, Page 10

RADIO LICENSES

AN INCREASE OF 4600 FALLING-OFF IN NUMBER OF DEALERS An official return, shows that at the end of last ycai; there were 42,801 radio receiving licenses on issue in the Dominion, as compared with 38,185 twelve months previously—an increase of 4616 for the year. Transmitting licenses increased in number from 136 to 169, dealers’ licenses decreased from 1728 to 1464, and broadcasting licenses, which numbered 7 at the end of 1927, were doubled. In addition, 179 licenses have been issued free to blind listeners. In the aggregate, excluding the free list, the number of licenses has increased during 1928 by 4392. The following table shows the number of receiving, transmission, and dealers’ licenses on issue in the four radio districts at the end of 1928, as compared with 1927, the latter figures being given

Fewer Dealers. The most significant feature of the above totals is the falling off during the past twelve months in the number of dealers’ licenses —a decrease of 264, or about one-sixth. This is probably attributable- to the unduly large proportion of dealers to listeners-m which grew up when the broadcasting novelty was introduced two or three years ago. It was inevitable that the proportion of one dealer to every 22 licensees which obtained in 1927 would not be maintained, and the decline seems to indicate that many of the dealers are not finding their business sufficiently profitable, as is natural in the circumstances. The biggest drop in the number of dealers licenses hns occurred in the Wellington district, where apparently 160 have been obliged to cease their operations.

Otago Lags Behind. Another conspicuous point about the return is the comparatively small extent to which Otago people have made use of the broadcasting facilities,' despite the fact that Dunedin practically led the way? during the Exhibition, in good broadcasting. During the past year licensees in that area have increased in number by 759, but a smaller increase is shown in'Canterbury, where the radio services have gained only 214 new patrons. Auckland has added 7oJ new enthusiasts to its list, and the popularity of the Wellington programmes would appear to be paramount from the fact that no fewer than 2795 new licensees have been enrolled in the last twelve months, considerably more than have been gained in the other three districts put together, while the licensees are 2835 more in the aggregate than those in Auckland. A little less than one-half of the free licenses which have been issued to the blind are held in Auckland, where the Jubilee Institute is situated. Ot the remainder the privilege has been extended to 47 persons in Canterbury, and 28 in each of the two other districts. Of the 14 broadcasting licenses, five are held in Otago, four int'Welhngton, three in Auckland, and two m Canterbury, .

in parentheses: Dealers Rec. Trans. Auckland . ... 14,437 58 420 (13,589) (43) WV Wellington ... 17,272 56 601 (14,477) (49) (760) Canterbury ... 8,167 34 280 (7,953) (27) (301) ... 2,925 21 163 (2,166) (17) (174) 42,801 169 1464 (38,185) (136)(1728)