PROHIBITION OF BROADCASTING

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 405, 13 July 1928, Page 7

PROHIBITION OF BROADCASTING

BOOKIES AND TRUANTS MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEW MEASURE

'While the New Zealand Trotting Parliament, in its wisdom, has seen Jit to place on the statute book a prohibitive measure relative to the broadcasting of events during tlie progress of race meetings, such action is not likely to meet with the approval of the general public, despite the excuses put forward by the authorities for such a drastic by-law.

No one will deny that such an important question was fully and carefully investigated, as stated in the message broadcast by the Press Association, but judging by the ultimate finding of the delegates, it would appear that the investigation and deliberations were mainly viewed from the side affecting the clubs, although soothing syrup was applied to the effect that the prohibition was also in the public interest. The Bookie Bogey Tlie big-bear of the encouragement of illegal betting was again advanced as the main reason for strong abjection to the broadca.sting policy, that has become so popular with people who, for valid reasons, are unable to attend such functions. In this respect it would be interesting to know what logical evidence delegates were able to bring forward, and to what extent illegal speculation had benefited through the describing of races by the radio process. The second phase of the objection claiming that broadcasting creates and maintains the attention of persons not able to be present at the races, which is a disadvantage to the business community is evidently a camouflage of the thought uppermost in the minds of club officials antagonistic to the scheme that it serves to keep many people from attending the races. In connection with the first line of argument the association can rest assured that people who make a practice of betting away from the course will continue to do so whether the broadcasting is proceeded with or abandoned. Such a system of betting is nothing new and clubs cannot shut their eyes to th fact that it was in vogue before radio descriptions and results were thought of, and the bann placed on the broadcasting is not going to -assist the totalisator revenue in the least degree. Who Receives the Benefit? As far as keeping people from attending race meetings is concerned it is inconceivable that any sportsman or sportswoman would be satisfied with such a process of indulging in a popular pastime if it is at all possible for them to be present in person. Those who benefit in reality from the broadcasting of races are people who from various reasons are unable to visit the meetings. This has been proved over and over again. Persons residing at a distance from the scene of activities have received much enjoyment “listening-in,” while hospital patients have found it a great source of amusement and a pleasing diversion from their unfortunate circumstances. But these folk are in future to have this little relaxatoin denied them, because evidently those in charge of the administration of trotting are imbued with the idea that too much investing capital is being directed through an illegal channel, and too many people play truant on race day because they can get their sport on the Poor Substitute But the powers that be have relented to the extent of extending privileges to representatives of the Broadcasting Company by which they can acquire data and proceed with thT broadcast business at the evening session. This appears after all to be a “difference without much distinction.” Except perhaps that the official on the air, providing of course the company is prepared to accept this backdoor method, will elaborate on the day’s sport to such a degree that the “stay-at-homes” and adherents of the non-tote system of speculation will be armed with such ammunition for the remaining days of the meeting that will swell the coffers of the illegal bettors and thus the reform intended will have defeated its own objective. In any case the public now get full details of the racing in the evening papers and the Broadcasting Company, if desirous of reviewing the day’s sport during the evening programme, will hardly go to the trouble and expense of sending a representative to the races, when the announcer can read it from one of the papers. This suggestion savours of the ridiculous, and is a feeble attempt at compensation to the suffering public. Better Service “Abaydos” admits there is a lot of room for improvement in the manner of broadcasting the actual racing, and had this formed one of the planks of the opposition’s platform, no surprise would have been expressed. But probably with the insecure tenure of the situation and the continuation of the threat being held over its head of the application of the prohibition clause, the company did not feel disposed to go into the question thoroughly. A mistake may have been made in this respect. and had the service been maintained at a high standard, with strict attention to the descriptive value of the events, there would have been less room for complaint. That there arc errors of judgment on both sides will be little satisfaction however to that section of the public which will bo tlie chief sufferer. By prohibiting broadcasting the association is not acting in the best interest of the popular sport, which was being further popularised by the use of radio. TROTTING FIXTURES August 11, 15. 17—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Oetobt r 15, 17—Auckland T.C. November 6, S, 9—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 17 21—Otahuhu T.C. December I.—Waikato T.C. December 27, 29, 31 —Auckland T.C. NOMINATIONS July 19 (noon) —N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.

ACCEPTANCES August 7 (noon) —N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. (first day).