Racing Broadcasts Banned by Authorities

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 1, 20 July 1928, Page 5

Racing Broadcasts Banned by Authorities

Is the Public Being Given Proper Consideration ? T= New Zealand Trotting Conference and the New Zealand Racing Conference have banned the broadcasting of trotting and race meetings on the grounds of detriment to the interests of the clubs and the public in facilitating illegal betting and exciting an interest on the day prejudicial to the business community. These grounds are of questionable merit and warrant public discussion, The general public is entitled to express its views on this embargo which does not seem to denote adequate regard on the part of those responsible for the appreciation of these broadcasts by thousands of listeners unable to attend sports meetings, The broadcasts have undoubtedly widencd interest in the sport and it remains to be seen just how the public will take this complete embargo by the authorities. .

HE Trotting Conference " Was the first to move in ’ in the matter, but its lead * Was followed two days later by the Racing’ Con‘ference carrying an identical resolution. The matter was brought forward by. @ report from the chief racecourse ingpector, Mr. A. Ward, who wrote as fcllows:- . The following questions appear to have arisen: (1) Whether the company should pay for the right to use race or trotting Cowr'ses on race days for the purpose of supplying entertainment or news to persons who were exclusively the company's customers, (2) Whether, in view of public interest in racing, the clubs should continue as at present to assist the company without fee, or . (3) Whether the broadcasting of racing news from courses should be allow6d under any conditions, No doubt there were many people who were unable to attend race meetings, but who eagerly awaited early newys of the results of the more important races, such as derhys, @ips, or steeplechases. There were also con-. valescents in hospitals and other institutions who probably derived pleasure from descriptiaons of racing events over | the wireless. From one point of view no valid reasons could be advancext against a proposition to charge the company a fee for a commodity supplied. , "There is, however, the most important aspect of this subject to be considered, and that is whether it is a wise policy to permit either free or for payment the broadcasting by wireless of racing news from race or trotting courses, Racing and betting on horse racing is regulated and governed by a very drastic statute law, the basic principle of which is to confine betting on horse racing events to the particular course where and when racing is taking place, and only by those who are able to be on the course in person, and then only through the medium of the totalisator. "This means that if a person cannot nitend a race meeting in person he cannot bet on any racing event unless he commits an offence, The obvious intention of the statute is to stifle interest in horse racing and betting thereon on race days away from the course, This being the case, would it be prudent policy for racing clubs to permit an outside body, which has no responsibility under the Gaming Act, for private profit to pursue a course which can have no other effect than to stimulate interest which results in illegal betting? "xt cannot be doubted that the broadesasting as at present carried out does stimulate interest away from racecourses on race days, and is resulting in an increase of business for bookmakers. This is common knowledge. Receiving sets are to be found in elubs, hotels, and other places where news from courses is received by wireless, and bookmakers are taking full advantage of the fact. If racing clubs are accused of providing a _ stimuins to bookmakers, and their clients to indulge in illegal betting, it would be .awkward to refute. It would be "no answer to say that the Government provides bookmakers with -telephones, which undoubtedly facilitate their illegal calling, as racing authorities cannot reasonably condemn the administration -of the Gaming Act while condoning something of equal effect. | "I suggest that a sound argument against the allowing of broadcasting is that it tends to create interest which leads’ to betting in places and under circumstances whieh are forbidden by Jaw. I am advised by the Commissioner of Police that he has had representations made to him on this very subject by his officers. He is averse to the broadcasting of news from courses, as it tends to increase his difliculties in suppressing illegal betting. "Tf this company is go desirous of entertaining its clients with racing news, a representative could attend the varidus race meetings, where no doubt he wvould be hospitably received by the Officials, and with the turf reporters he could vecord his impressions on each tracing event and his impressions could be broadeast during the evening after. the meeting. This would have a double effect, It would not place racing clubs in a false position, and a much larger number of clients would be at leisure o receive the news, and they would not be diverted from their interest and httention in their various occupations, and there could be no illegal betting, bs the racing would be over and finished." Tn-an addendum to the report Sir George Clifford said: "I thoroughly approve of this report, and recommend that if be adopted by the combined tommittee of the New Zealand Racing. ind Trotting Ounferences.* =...

A Compiete Embargo. Vollowing this, the chairman of the Conference, Mr. W. BG. Eidwill, said he was strongly in favour of broadcasting, which proviied great enjor- | ment to people in the country, but in the face of the report just read he did not see what they could do. He accordingly moved the following resolution : "That the question of radio broadcasting of race meetings during the progress of the racing haying beer carefully investigated the New Zealund Racing Conference resolves :- "1, That is is not in the interests of the racing club or of the general public that such broadcasting should be permitted for the reasons that such broadcasting (1) promotes and facilitates illegal betting; (2) creates and maintains fin attention to the happenings at race meetings during the progress thereof by many persons uot present, Which results in disadvantage to the business community.

"2. That radio broadcasting of this kind be prohibited by all clubs but that all clubs be recommended to accord to responsible representatives of the Radio Broadcasting company all privileges and facilities now enjoyed by the Press, in order that such representatives’may take such notes as may enable the broadcasting of race meetings as part of the evening's programme.’ Mr, Ii, Russell (Hawke's Bay): Will these resolutions be incorporated in the rules? Will it be illegal to have broadcasting ? The chairman: The Radio Company will not be allowed on to courses to give detailed reports of the races, Mr. Russell: Is the club bound by these resolutions? ‘Will they be incorporated in the rules? The chairman: It will be a resolution of the Conference, and will go out to the clubs, and if the clubs do not carry out the wishes of the Conference it is for the Conference to say what it will do with the elubs. The motion was carried, Are the Reasons Sound In our view-and we believe endorsement will follow from the public-the conclusions of the chief race-course inspector as to the demerits of racing broadcasts are not sound, and the members of the conferences did themselves less than justice in failing in the first place to thoroughly investigate those allegations, and secondly, in failing to balance against whatever weight was determined did attach to them, the undoubted fact that very extensive pleasure has been afforded many, many thousands who definitely are quite unable to attend race meetings, by the descriptive broadcasts of race meetings which have been given in recent times. The chief race-course inspector was. formerly © member of the police force, and as such, his mind must inevitably work slong the lines of a police officer. That the attendance in billiard saloons on the occasion of racing broadcasts, is larger than usual, may be correctbut, se is the attendance of the pubiic on similar occasions in front of newspaper windows and hoardings and tobacconists shops where the results are posted up. ‘Those attendances in themselves are no guaraniee that illegal betting is in progress to a degree greater than usual,.nor are they justification for the banning of the posting of Prass.

results. _ Where there is a public demand that demanil will be met, and the posting of the results is like the broadcasting of the races, simply a service to the public. The Chief Inspector says the result is an increase in illegal bookmaking, and that this is a matter of "common knowledge." We think _ his presentation of the case is exaggerated. Bookmakers were in existence long before broadcasting began, and although conducting an illegal business, huaye had sufficient ingenuity to secure the information necessary to their eraft, through their own means of communication, over the CGovernment telegraphic and telephone services. Are those services to be discarded from the use of the community because of their use in this way? These bookmakers presumably operate in respect of all race meetings through-/ out the country. Only a small proportion of those meetings have been broadcast so that it has been impossible for the. bookmakers to rely upon broadcasting for the information they require. They had their own service before broadcasting began and they, ane Sea a -~- Soo OS tit tee See! gine NRL Sera ere eae ee ath te te Tae eee ee ees OE.

still have the same system. Broadcasting is of no outstanding benefit to them in displacing their own methods. The Gaming Amendment. That a little extra opportunity for speculative investment is afforded distant enthusiasts by racing broadcasts may be possible-although it is not proyen on the facts-and if if were feasible for investments to be telegraphed ‘to the totalisator the race meeting concerned would secure a direct cash benefit from this increased interest. The Gaming Bill now on the stocks contains a proposal to that end, As things are at present (or have been) this business cannot benefit the clubs because in any case it is impossible for the money to be remitted. Banning the broadcast therefore will not benefit the clubs one iota: the effect will be merely that definite injury and disappointment will be inflicted upon thousands of unoffending.souls. It is there we think that the conference failed to strike a balance between the professional zeal of their chief inspector and their own knowledge as good sports of the widespread interest in and benefit from racing broadcasts. The Business Interest. The further point that the business community suffers disadvantageously through the distracting charms of racing broadcasts has even less merit than the suggestion of illegal betting, Frankly, how many people in business are able to devote their day: to listening to a racing broadcast; how many desirous of attending and able to do so wonld stay away merely because the meeting was to be put.on the air? A handful at the most, And as against that handful there is the definite gain of interest in thousands of distant homes-an interest .that later translates itself into patronage of the local race meeting and so. builds up an expanding interest in the sport of racing. It is this interest that the Racing and Trotting Conferences should be concerned to maintain and develop. It is the occasion for a long view and not a short view-the occasion for a balanced view and.not a biased view. In striking a balance we are satisfied that the weight of public opinion will be in favour. of the continuance of racing broadcasts

as being a gain to the public and a. populariser of the sport. | Public Interest Must Rule, | | ‘It is the public that is chiefly concerned in this matter. If it be conceded that racing and trotting are permissible recreations-and we do | not think that matter is in questionthen their popularity rests with the public; their continuance depends upon public support, In return for that ‘support the public is entitled to the | best possible service in news and information, and on this plane there is no rival for the descriptive broadcast in its immediacy and interest. If it be urged that abuse attends the broadeast, that is no argument for its complete abolition. It is only an argument for proper policing and control. It is the function of the police to prevent abuse of the law. To cut off a public utility because of some small individual abuse is ridiculous. ‘What community would endure its gas supply being cut off because some poor distressed soul inserted a gas tube in his mouth? Should

[razors be abolished because someone cut his throat therewith? In this matter the greatest good for the greatest number must be the final determining factor. A balance must be struck. It rests with the public "to throw in the weight of its opinion ‘as to its own intc-est to tip down the beam against the restricted individual view that so far seems to have prevailed, We firmly believe that on reconsideration the conference will realise that they have far more to gain from the broadcasting of their meetings than to lose, and that they will realise the public, as their patrons, haye their rights in the matter.