LICENSE STATISTICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20183, 27 June 1928, Page 10

LICENSE STATISTICS

HOW TO INCREASE NUMBERS? The latest figures available for the Dominion are those returned at the Chief Post Office on June 15. They are shown in the last column of the following table, in which the other columns give the number of licenses in force at the end of the months named. As the monthly totals are definite and the figures for June 15 are only approximate, it is probable that the June numbers arc actually slightly better than they appear:

The big Wellington station undoubtedly inspired a host of Wellington people to put in crystal sets, and many of these, having acted more or less on the spur of the moment or with unduly high anticipations, have not carried on. There were also no doubt many people in other districts who, expecting wonderful things from 2YA, installed receivers, and owing to local conditions were disappointed. The figures at the end of March looked rather too good to he true, and it will probably be found that they were, in spite of the wonderfully improved programmes and technical performances to which we hav.q now become accustomed.

It would be a great pity if the reduction of licenses led to a diminution in the quality of the entertainment provided by the Broadcasting Company, and it is not only the company that should make an effort to ensure the continued progress of broadcasting in New Zealand. Listeners can all do something. Every one who can be converted into a listener and license-payer will do the service good, but no one can be converted by an unworthy demonstration. Those who suspect their receivers of not being pleasant to hear should be very careful about inviting guests to “listen in” to an abominable noise. But much more powerful than the listener’s private demonstration as propaganda among those who do not own sets is the dealer’s shop demonstration, because it catches the ear of thousands, and is sought out by the half-persuaded. There are many people who arfc merely waiting to be persuaded, and who hesitate at the doorway of a radio shop—and what do they hear, five times out of six? Something that would get a gramophone immediate orders to go into the woodshed! It’s a wise dealer who makes sure that his shop demonstrations are as nearly perfect as they can be, and then holds them in a quiet room at the back.

Receiving Licenses. At March. April. May. j une 15 Ak. 13,922 10,534 11,267 11,333 Ch. 7.899 6.161 6.67S 6,735 Dn. 2,331 1,930 2.104 2 132 Wn. 15,077 11,314 12,745 12*909 ■ ■ • —~ Totals . 39,229 29,939 32,794 33,159 Dealers’ Licenses. Ak. 501 265 320 327 Ch. 298 219 249 241 Dn. 174 105 i 99 1 99 Wu. . 754 439 505 515 Totals . —— - —— — 1727 1028 1196 1205