RADIO

Southland Times, Issue 20207, 18 June 1927, Page 7

RADIO

WIRELESS PROTECTION RIGHTS. QUESTION OF ROYALTIES. Sydney, June 17. Further examined by the Film Commission in regard to the Amalgamated Wireless Protection Rights, Mr Fisk said that his company had not yet made claims in New Zealand, although their patents were being infringed there. Asked by the chairman if he did not think it would be better to go to New Zealand and have their legal rights tested without disturbing the peace of the Commonwealth, Mr Fisk replied that he did not think the trade in Australia would be any more peaceful because they would still be under a cloud. When the Western Electric Company proposed to install broadcasting stations in New Zealand he agreed that it could use the Amalgamated Wireless protection rights provided the latter had the right to collect a royalty for their use. It was a difficult thing to ask the New Zealand Government to pay a royalty when the whole matter was under review in Australia. If the Commonwealth established a broadcasting monopoly his company would have to negotiate with the Government along the same lines as with New Zealand.—A. and N.Z. LISTENERS-IN LEAGUE. COMPLETE GOVERNMENT CONTROL URGED. Auckland, June 17. A circular issued by the Auckland Listeners in League says that as far as the league can find out there is a universal desire fbr direct Government control and solicits support to secure immediate Government control of broadcasting in New Zealand. The league feels that the present company could never regain public confidence by reorganisation or other methods, but that under Government control the licenses would increase rapidly and broadcasting would be no financial burden on the State.