RADIO SHORTAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 35, 11 February 1944, Page 4

RADIO SHORTAGE

USED SETS IN KEEN DEMAND

DEALERS’ DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING SPARE PARTS During the past 18 months no new radio sets have been placed on the New Zealand market, and no domestic type of set has been manufactured in the Dominion, states a message from Wellington. Since the importation of radio sets was prohibited, five or six years ago, New Zealanders have been forced to depend on local manufacture. Normally the industry would ;have to supply about 40,000 sets a year. Although limited supplies of new radio sets can be offered for sale in Wanganui, the position appears to be better than in Wellington, where the radio trade is concerned about the situation that has arisen. It was scarcely correct to say, however, that no new radio sets had been placed on the market in the Dominion for 18 months. New sets were still being offered for sale by some dealers, although with the ban on manufacture the number was rapidly diminishing. "Second-hand radio sets are bringing good prices,” said a Wanganui dealer yesterday. “Many owners are selling privately at high rates. Small sets are in keen demand. The public would be well advised to acquire new sets while they are available. The price of new radio sets is controlled by the Price Tribunal, and in most cases they have a guaranteed life. All firms are obliged to obtain sets wherever they can for resale secondhand, but. there appears to be no control of second-hand prices. "In addition to a scarciety of new sets and high prices for second-hand sets, many components are off the market. Certain types of valves are not obtainable. Valve manufacturers overseas are only permitted to manufacture radio sets to those types. This often means partially rewiring the sei. "Technicians and manufacturing staffs had been placed on radio production for war purposes. Given supplies of materials, once the war ended it should not be difficult for New Zealand to switch to the manufacture of radio sets. It was believed that the Government held substantial stocks of materials which, if released after the war, would facilitate the revival of the industry. “Radio set owners would be well advised to treat their sets with considerate care, the dealer concluded, "as there did not seem to be any likelihood of improvement in the near future."