RADIO LICENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20536, 10 April 1930, Page 14

RADIO LICENCES.

Sir, —May I state the facts of my case. On or about February 18 I arranged to try out a wireless set with an idea of purchasing samo if it proved satisfactory. The set in question was a second-hand one and our local dealer who supplied tho set was under the impression there was no urgency in taking out the licence, being ignorant of new regulations demanding registration after seven days. On the occasion of Rear-Admiral Byrd's broadcast to schoolchildren I invited the headmaster of our school (which is almost opposite to my residence) to bring his pupils over to hear thei talk. They duly came and the talk came through quite well, much to the satisfaction of the children. The affair was reported in our weekly paper. Next day a radio inspector called on me, having come expressly, from Warkworth, 20 iniles away. I was perfectly straightforward with him ahd gaye him all the particulars of the sale, which he verified by calling on the dealer. The next day I received a communication from the telegraph engineer, Auckland, asking for s. full report, which I sent him by return. Judge of my amazement, when before I could receive a reply from Auckland I got a summons direct from tho clerk of tho Court at Warkworth. Being a partially disabled soldier I could not go over to answer the charge in person, but upon tho advice of the Post and Telagraph Department, Auckland (whom I had rung up on receipt of the blue paper), I wroto an explanatory letter to the clerk of the Court for him to hand up to the Bench for tlheir perusal. Evidently this was of no avail as tho Bench whipped it into mo hot and strong, fining me 20s and 10s costs. Now what hurts is that I was perfectly frank about it and had no intentions of evading my obligations. As a matter of fact I went and took out a licence-immediately the inspector had pointed out the "enormity" of my crime. Seeing that the year was almost up and taking all (he evidence into consideration, I think the Post and Telegraph Department, might have let me of! with a caution. For my unfortunate error one year's listening-in is going to cost me two years' licence fees. The inspector admitted to me that he always warned new radio set owners in .Warkworth to get their licences but no .one did this for me. Tho worst aspect of the case is that 1 may stand to lest my war pension through a convection having been entered against me. If I had wanted to dodge paying the licence fee my aerial would not have been where it is, viz., in full view of the main West Coast Road. F. G. E. Biioad. Port Albert Central.