RADIO LICENSES

Southland Times, Issue 22499, 8 December 1934, Page 8

RADIO LICENSES

FEES REDUCED. DROP OF FIVE SHILLINGS. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, December 7. From April 1 next, radio receiving license fees will be reduced from 30/to 25/- per annum. In making this announcement before his departure for the south this evening, the Postmaster-General, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, said that the feasibility of reducing the fee had been under consideration for some time, and he was now pleased to state that conditions permitted of this concession to listeners. The step taken was in pursuance of the policy of providing facil-. ities at the cheapest possible cost to the public. Mr Hamilton said the New Zealand Broadcasting Board had shown a spirit of co-operation in the proposal by agreeing to accept a reduction of 2/in the amount payable to the board in respect of each license. As listeners are no doubt aware, the board has, since its inception on January 1, 1932, undertaken large developmental plans, both in respect of building and apparatus. Obviously this progressive programme absorbed a large amount of capital, but these financial commitments will not of course be recurring ones. An outline of the comparative increase in the number of licenses of which the New Zealand Broadcasting Board took control on January 1, 1932, was given by Mr Hamilton. On that date, he said, the number of radio receiving licenses numbered 71,680. At October 31 last the number was 139,690. The contribution by the board amounting to 2/- for each full license would therefore be by no means an inconsiderable one.