AUSTRALIAN LICENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN LICENCES.

PIRACY IN NEW SOUTH WALES In the last six months the number of wireless licences in Australia has increased from 263,340 to 283,923, an increase in the number of active licences of more than 20,000. Victoria is still leading with 142,334 licences, and (hero are still more licences in force in that State than in all the remaining States together. But Victoria is being closely followed by New South Wales, where there are 87,355 licences. It is expected that, as a result of increased activity on the part of the radio inspectors this number will be greatly increased in the next month or two. In view of tho fact that Victoria outclasses the other States so greatly in the number ot listeners' licences, it is of interest to note that of the 767 experimental broadcasting licences in Australia there are 267 m Now South Wales, or four moro than there are in Victoria. These experimental licences aro believed to indicate that radio is l just as popular in New South Wales as elsewhere, and it is the view of the authorities that tho Sydney broadcasting stations are just as popular as those in any other State, but that on account of the largo area of New South Wales and tho small force of radio inspectors there are a great number of unlicensed listeners. From August, 1024, to August, 1928, £1665 was collected in fines and costs as the result of prosecutions by radio inspectors. In the same period tho cost of inspection nnd prosecutions was over £4500 in New South Wales. 11 has been suggested that tho receipts mentioned should be appropriated to meet tho cost of a larger inspection staff, instead of being paid into tho consolidated revenue, as at present.

In such a -widely-scattered country as Australia it is remarkable that thero is approximately ono licence to 20 inhabitants, which compares 'Ynoro favourably with the position in England, whero thoro is ono licenco to approximately 17 inhabitants, and whero the broadcasting stations aro sufficiently rloso together to give everybody a splendid service at the cheapest possible raL#,.