LICENCES FOR RADIO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 12

LICENCES FOR RADIO.

THE DUTIES OF OWNERS. NO ALLOWANCE FOR TRIAL. PROSECUTIONS AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. Sunday. The fact that radio licences must bo renewed each year was emphasised in the Magistrate's Court last week, when failure to comply with the regulation 10sulled 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 licences promptly. " While in the main the intentions of the listener are honourable and good," he said, " (lie excuses given to the inspector often tax his credulity. Sometimes the receiver fails to reach the owner's expectations, and the inspector is expected fo accept this excuse, as a good and sufiicient reason for his not having a licence. " There i's a popular misconception that (he owner is allowed .1 period of tiiftl before a licence need lie obtained. This is incorrect, and is not in strict conformity with the Act. A licence should bo 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 licence, whether or not ho intends to keep the set. " In the case of renewals, many people allow several weeks to go by before taking action. It should bo clearly understood that a licence should be renewed on or before the date of expiry of the current one. Therefore, listeners should lake heed and renew their licences promptly, for if they do not a visit from the inspector may make the licence an expensive one when it conies to adding a fine and costs to the usual fee."