RACE BROADCASTS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 12, Issue 299, 16 March 1945, Page 5

RACE BROADCASTS

Sir-The number of broadcasts of war news to which one listens is not the yardstick by which one’s recognition of the significance and importance of the world struggle is measured. That point appears to be missed by "R.A.F." and "M.E.R." To take an interest in racing as a booster of morale and to place the war temporarily out of mind is surely not the crime suggested by those correspondents. It is better than to hang incessantly on every word of news broadcasts, which, after all, are numerous and largely repetitious. Regarding the remarks made on the value of racing in these days, I always think the best answer to critics of wartime racing is the fact that a couple of seasons ago the leading stake-winner in England was His Majesty the King. "T.C.’s" suggestion that race commentaries should take precedence over war news from a YA

station is a commendable one. Racing is of Dominion-wide interest and requires a strong station to secure the necessary coverage. News broadcasts are heard irom all stations and if an alternative Station had to take over the broadcast in one centre there would be no incon

venience,-

SPIELPLATZ

(Hamilton).

Sir,-Some of your readers seem very touchy. "T.C." merely wants to know why the almost hourly records of stale news should interrupt a race broadcast, and the issue becomes confused by other writers attacking him for trying to sabotage the war effort, not knowing there is a war on, etc. I fail to see the connection. In our household we never listen to a news broadcast, a commentary, or ‘any war programme. Neither do we listen te Parliament. We keep the radio solely as a means of entertainment, and get all the war news and other information from the daily papers and other printed matter. Maybe we get our news an hour or two later by this system (does it mate ter?) but I defy anybody to show how we are retarding the course of the war by not listening to the radio news broadcasts. Personally, I think these news broadcasts are very much overdone, One in the morning, and another at evening, should be enough for anybody. If 90 per cent of them were cut out (and 100 per cent of the so-called commentaries) I would be the first to say "Good ride dance." We got through the last war quite well without them. The spoken word can never replace the written word

BACKFIRE

(Hawera). :

Sir-It appears that the Race Come mentary v. War News controvery has cropped up once again. A few statistics on the subject might interest readers and give "R.A.F." and "M.E.R." food for thought. Twelve New Zealand radio stations broadcast news, etc, no fewer than 30,100 times in a year (this figure includes London news, newsreel and come mentary, Sunday night talks, and those crude and sordid little propaganda dramas. "The Livine Theatre").

The number of times that race commentaries could replace the news in the course of a year would of course be less than 52, as it is only at noon on Satur~ days that one coincides with the other, thus. leaving more than 30,000 war broadcasts to give those favouring this form of radio entertainment their 25 shillings’ worth. I should say that thie would still be giving them a return for their money; in proportion to those who would prefer racing commentaries. There seems to exist a school of thought that resents the fact that the wer has not ravaged New Zealand. "Count your blessings" they keep on saying. "But if you happen to be a rac ing enthusiast, you should not make the best of them."

TEE-ESTEE

(Wellington). }