WARNING TO RADIO USERS

Patea Mail, Volume XLIX, 28 March 1927, Page 4

WARNING TO RADIO USERS

J 1 ECj G 11 I E HENTSOt' TH E LAW, KEEP I. KG Th’AGE OP PLANTS. POINTS PONCE JAM XG SALESMEN. A case’ of importance to owners of wifeless receiving sets, the first prosecution of its kind in Auckland, was heard in the Police Court before Air. \V. lb Me Keen, S.M., when Norman VV. I Smith (Air. Luxxord) was charged with establishing a set in a place other than that prescribed by the terms of his license, and with offering the set for sale without possessing u license for the purpose. It was stated by a radio inspector that the defendant had a license to erect a receiving set at his homy at Onehunga, but he had gone to Kuawai on holiday, taken the set with him, and re-erected it there. , While at Kuawai he had demonstrated the apparatus to some people and told them the same lirm which had supplied his set would provide them with an outfit. Howcvei, he did not possess a salesman’s license. When interviewed he admitted that the manager of the firm had offered him some remuneration if he could place any sols, and that he was told that if any aouble arose the firm’s license would cover him. Mr. Lux ford said the sales question affected the whole business of distribution of wireless sots throughout the Dominion. The strict letter of the law apparently held anyone guilty of an offence who influenced a person to buy a set. Defendant had merely told the people at Kuawai that the agency was a good one and could provide such n set, as he possessed. A technical offence was therefore being committed by every radio dealer iu the Dominion who made a point of telling purchasers to show their sets to their friends. Even newspaper advertising which found its way into the towns where a dealer was not licensed would create an offence if the Act wore interpreted strictly, but this was merely reducing it to complete absurdity. 'flic magistrate said the section of the Act applied to people carrying on the business of dealers without a license. It could hardly he suggested that every person employed behind a radio dealer’s counter should be licensed. That was not the intention of the legislature. Defendant was not a dealer and had merely demonstrated his sot. "It is just as well for users of sets to know the provisions of the Act," said the magistrate, in referring to the erection of sets in unauthorised places. "If sets are moved from one place to another without the sanction of the Department the owners are liable to a penalty. As this is the first prosecution I will not impose a penalty, but it is essential for many reasons that the authorities should know the location of all sets, and the drawing of attention to the provisions of the Act will, I hope, serve some useful purpose." ' ■ L 1 Defendant Avas convicted and ordered to pay costs on the first charge, the second charge being dismissed.