RADIO SETS MADE AT HUTT WORKSHOPS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 224, 18 June 1936, Page 8

RADIO SETS MADE AT HUTT WORKSHOPS

Government Experiments

DEALERS TO APPROACH POSTMASTER-GENERAL Experiments with the building of radio receiving sets are being carried out by the Government at the Railway Workshops at Lower Hutt. No official statement of policy governing the production of these sets is forthcoming as yet, but it appears that the aim is to evolve an efficient receiver at a selling price in the neighbourhood of £5 or £5/10/-. It is no secret in the radio trade that experimetnal work is being carried out. Dealers and manufacturers alike, however, are chiefly concerned to know the full scope of the. Government’s plans and how they will affect the radio business as at present constituted. o

Several experimental sets are believed to have been made at the workshops, but the actual number is not known. It was variously reported yesterday that receivers to the number of two, six and 20 had been built, also that a considerable quantity of material and equipment had been obtained.

It remained a matter for lively con jecture yesterday whether the building of the sots is purely a technical experiment or an endeavour to evolve a standard, low-priced receiver by way of a pattern for manufacturers. Mr. G. 11. Mackloy, General Manager of Railways, said that the department had experimented with the making of a few sets, but he denied that these had been constructed either at the request of or for the purposes of the Post and Telegraph Department. The department had a radio set in the first rail-car, but this had been made by a firm which specialised in the type of set suitable for use in rail-cars, though it was installed by the department.

The department had in its extensive and efficient electrical branch workmen and technicians who were as expert on wireless work as could be desired, and a few sots which had been made were produced to demonstrate to him that the department could make efficient radio sets ou an economic basis. Asked whether the experiment had been made with a view to extending the installation of radio sets on the railways, he said that it had been macle simply to prove that the department could'manufacture sets.

The recent pronouncement of the Postmaster-General as to the possibility of the manufacture of a cheap standard set has created a great deal of interest and some apprehension it’ radio-manufacturing and distribution circles. Yesterday the New Zealand Radio Dealers’ Federation had a meeting at the conclusion of which a statement was issued stating that radio dealers, who include manufacturers, through their Dominion organisation, are arranging for a representative deputation to wait on the PostmasterGeneral. It> is their intention to submit to him reasons why the radio business should remain in private hands It was stated by an official of the federation that there were approximately 1500 dealers in New Zealand, employing an average of three hands In addition, there were four large radio-manufacturing concerns directly employing among them another 1000 people. Not included in these figures were a large number of cabinetmakers and others Indirectly concerned in the radio trade. The Postmaster-General would be asked if it was the Government’s intention to go in for the wholesale manufacture of standard sets, thus jeopardising the employment cf Netv Zealanders employed in private concerns.

FINDING ACTUAL COST OF PRODUCTION

Government’s Intentions Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, June .17. "The Government has no intention of entering the radio business,” declared the Postmaster-General, Hon. F. Jones, to-night, when his attention was called to a report from Wellington suggesting that the production of standard sets was to be undertaken by the Post and Telegraph Department In conjunction with the Railway Department. “Nor has any decision been made by the Government,” the Minister added, “that the systematic manufacture of radio sets will be carried out by these two departments.” All tiiat had been done so far, the Postmaster-General explained, was to arrange for the building of a few sets as an experiment with a view to ascertaining the actual cost of production. At his request an arrangement for that purpose had been made by the Post aud Telegraph Department, with the cooperation of the Minister of Railways, Hon. D. G. Sullivan. There was no intention to go in for the manufacture of sets but merely to construct a few so that, the Government would have an idea of the finished cost of the product. When the sets wtye completed a cheek would be made for that purpose and the efficiency of the sets in regard to reception, power etc., would also be tested. “We are also looking closely into the question of royalties,'’ the PostmasterGeneral said. "The present royalties amount to a very heavy charge on the sets sold in Now Zealand. That charge may be justifiable. At present we do not know, but we are making an investigation with a view to finding out whether these charges can be reduced so that the purchase of a radio set may be brought within the reach of everyone in the community. Mr. Jones explained that under the royalty system at present in operation every'radio set sold in New Zealand was covered by a uniform charge of 3/6 per valve socket. which in the ca<e of a six-valve set meant a total charge of 21/-. Iu England the corresponding charge vvns 1/- tier valve socket, but it was stated that when an English set was sold in New Zealand tlw royalty of 3/6 was still levied in addition to a charge of I/-. “An agreement to sell sets under these conditions has been signed by all radio traders in the Dominion,” added the Postmaster-General, “and the object of our inquiries is to ascertain whether the charge is a fair one.”