WIRELESS SET LICENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19732, 3 September 1927, Page 12

WIRELESS SET LICENCES.

RENEWAL NOT OBTAINED

MEANING OF WORD " DISMANTLE."

The definition of tho word "dismantle" in the amateur radio regulations formed the basis of argument in tho Police Court yesterday, when A. W. Thomas was charge with failing to renew a wireless licence. Senior-Sergeant Edwards brought forward evidence for the police to show that Thomas had failed to renew his licence. In evidence, Thomas said that parts of his set had been hanging up since tho end of February. The set was installed at a summer cottage in which ho had not been living since the end of April. Expert evidence given by V. R. Johns was to the effect that the set, as produced in Court, could be connected up within five minutes To comply with the regulations regarding the dismantling of sets he considered it would be necessary for an owner to take the set out of the house Mr. N. R. W- Thomas, who appeared for defendant, submitted that the set had been d : smaptled as the word "dismantled" was defined in the standard dictionaries. He had received a letter from an agent in Wellington regarding the matter. The agent stated that he had interviewed the officer who deals with the licences under the Secretary of the Post Office, He was informed that there was a difference of opinion among magistrates as to the extent of dismantling. To try to clear this up there was an amending bill before Parliament altering the Act to read " totally dismantling." Two recent Wellington cases had both resulted in the charges being dismissed. The Magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean ■ I do not know of any forthcoming legislation. I do not think that the word "total" would make much difference. In my opinion this set was not dismantled in the meaning of the Act. The fine in these cases has been £2. The magistrate agreed to impose a fine of £5 Is in order to allow of appeal. On similai charges E. F. Fellows, H. Lipscombe and C. H. Tilcman -were each fined £3. J F. Shanly was fined £3 for failing to obtain a licence for a set.