25 YEARS AGO

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 270, 11 August 1938, Page 10

25 YEARS AGO

Seriousness Of Owning A

Radio Set.

(From "The Dominion,” August 11, 1013.)

A case of considerable interest was heard in tlie Hastings court yesterday morning, when Eric H. Battershill was charged that on June 1 he did establish a plant for the purpose of receiving communications by wireless telegraphy "’ithout having obtained the consent of the Postmaster-General. Defendant pleaded gililtv. Mr. H. A. Cornford, who prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, said that the apparatus had been installed by defendant, who was a high school boy, for the prosecution of his study of electricity. His apparatus for receiving wireless messages from places within a radius ot 30 miles —not sp arranged as to tie able to reply, but for the purpose of receiving—was perfect.. Defendant was liable to a penalty of £5OO. 11. was a matter of great importance, inasmuch as what tlie boy ■was doing for his own instruction might be done by persons of great intelligence for reasons serious to the country and Empire, such as tlie interception of wireless messages from overseas. The danger of such plots was that they might produce results of the utmost gravity, and it would be advisable for the State to make public the penalty. Mr. 11. D. Scannell, who represented defendant, said he did not see what harm could result if permission were given to use such apparatus within a radius of 30 miles. A mountain was being made out of a molehill. Tlie statute only served to stultify boys talent. New Zealand was hidebound as no other country was. The lad would bow to tlie decision of the authorities and have the apparatus dismantled. The magistrate said there was something to Ix 3 said in favour of the statute. For instance, in a ease where a message of a vital matter was being transmitted, not only between one Department of Slate and ■•mother, but containing private information. if it were intercepted harm could be done. Defendant would be convicted and ordered to eonie up for sentence when called upon. JAt that time two or three Bost Office stations and some of the largest ships were the only radio stations. Listeners’ licences were not issued until several years after the war, and then only -with great formality.!