4600 RADIO LICENSES FOR 1928

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6809, 12 January 1929, Page 10

4600 RADIO LICENSES FOR 1928

Fewer Dealers

BIG INCREASE IN WELLINGTON PROVINCE (Times Special.) . WELLINGTON, Last Night. The increasing vogue of radio throughout New Zealand is illustrated in the return of licenses issued during 1928. The official figures, compiled up to 31st December, 1928, show that at that date thero were 42,501 receiving licenses on issue in the Dominion, as compared with 38,155 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 1936, as compared with 1927, the latter figures being given in parentheses: —

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-in 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 licenses 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 has occurred in tho Wellington district, where apparently 160 have been obliged to ceaso their operations. 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 759 new enthusiasts to its list, and the popularity of the Wellington pro* grammes would appear to be paramount from the fact that no fewer than 2795 new licenses have been enrolled in the last twelve months, considerably more than have been gained in the other threo districts put together, while tho licenses are 2835 more in the aggregate than those £n 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. Of tho 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 in Wellington, three in Auckland, and two in Canterbury.

ltec. Trans. Dealers Auckland . 14,437 58 420 (13,589) (43) (493) Wellington 17,272 56 601 (14,477) (49) (760) Canterbury * 8,167 34 280 (7,953) (27) (301). Otago . .. .. 2,925 21 163 (2,166) (17) (174) 42,801 169 1464 (38,185) (136) (172S)