RADIO LICENSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1928, Page 12

RADIO LICENSES

DUTIES OF OWNERS

The fact that radio licenses must be renewed each year was emphasised in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington, when failure to comply with the regulation resulted in fines being imposed on offenders. The radio inspector, Mr W. March, said it was remarkable that so many people ran the risk of a prosecution through failing to obtain licenses promptly. “While in the main the intentions of the listener are honourable and good,” he said, “the excuses given to the inspector often tax his credulity. Sometimes the receiver fails to reach the owner’s expectations, and the inspector is expected to accept this excuse as a good and sufficient reason for his not having a license.

“There is a popular misconception that the owner is allowed a period of trial before a license need be obtained. This is incorrect, and is not in strict conformity with the Act. A license should be obtained first, or, at any rate, before the set is used. The only exception to this rule is that a dealer may demonstrate an expensive valve set at the residence of' a prospective purchaser for a period of one week. ' After that the prospective buyer is responsible for a license, whether or not he intends to keep the set. . . . .

■ “In the'case of renewals; many people allow several weeks! to go by before taking action. It should be clearly understood that a license should be renewed on or before the date of expiry of the current one. Therefore, listeners should take heed and renew their licenses promptly, for if they do not a visit from the inspector may make the license ,an expensive one when it comes to adding a fine and costs to the usual fee.”