Parliament Discusses Racing Ban

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 6, 24 August 1928, Page 8

Parliament Discusses Racing Ban

"~~ Rights of Public being Ignored

DISCUSSION occurred in Parliament last week on the action of the Racing and Trotting Conferences in banning the broadcast of race news. This action was strongly condemned by some speakers, ‘and the reason advanced that broadcasting promoted gambling was characterised as sheer hypocrisy. It was made plain that any change in the situation would arise only from the weight of public opinion making itself felt.

Me. H. E. HOLLAND, Leader of the Opposition, asked whether the Post and Telegraph Department had taken any action regarding the attitude adopted by the Racing Conference concerning the broadcasting of race meeting results. The Racing Conference, he said, seemed to have taken upon itself the power which belonged to Parliament on one hand, and the Court on the other. The Radio Broadcasting Company had announced that it was going to continue broadcasting irrespective of any action on the part of the Racing Conference. The company was receiving assistance from the Post Office, and the questions.in dis-’ pute really came within the scope of. the Department to a certain extent. It: would be interesting to know what attitude the Department proposed to adopt in the matter. "When the Tun-ney-Heeney fight was on," added Mr. Holland, "members of the House were able to follow the bout as it proceeded, and I can’t see the difference between listening-in to a pugilistic encounter and listening-in to a horse race. The Racing Conference contend that the broadcasting of race meetings will lead to an increase in gambling, :but it is hard to imagine how that could possibly happen under existing. conditions; and, in any case, if-a veto is to be operated, surely it ought to be operated by Parliament, and not by the Racing Conference." "Sheer Hypocrisy." "T am in accord with those who resent the attitude of the Racing Conference on this question," said Mr. R. W. Smith (Waimarino). "The claim that the broadcasting of the events will increase gambling is sheer hypocrisy. . . Already too many | restrictions are being placed on the liberty. of the subject. The Racing Conference proposal is a breach of faith with the general public. I feel that in the interests of those who have been induced to purchase wireless sets, par-

ticularly those in the country districts, the action of the Racing Conference should be taken in hand by the Goyernment, and that the proposed restrictions should not be allowed to be enforced." Prime Minister’s Views. "The question as to whether this or that should be broadcast is a domestic matter: between the company and the Racing Conference," said the Prime Minister. "It is for themselves to arrange what should be broadcast, and, so long as the information sent out does ,not contravene public policy, there is.no reason why it should not be broadcast. The Racing Conference is responsible: for the government of racing in New Zealand, and rightly so. We are not: discussing racing to-day, but I say that-racing is far safer and better controlled under the present system than if. it were governed by Parliament.. (Hear, hear.) On the general question’ of public policy, Parliament, of course, must come in." (Hear, hear.) . The Prime Minister said that the racing clubs: ‘and also the broadcasting company had their interests to serve, and there was no doubt there were two sides to the present dispute. He was not in possession of all the points at issue, but it was possible that the Racing Conference had taken the stand that the privilege of broadcasting the racing was worth something to the broadcasting company. It helped to fill their programmes at little expense, and was it not worth something? was the question the conference would probably ask. Mr. J. Horn (Wakatipu): That is the point. — The Prime Minister: If it is worth something to the broadcasting company, the Racing Conference would consider the question of supply and demand. I may be completely off the mark, and I only say that in a general way. . Mr. V..H. Potter (Roskill) : And the poor, old public suffer between the two. . The Prime Minister emphasised that the Government could only intervene if there was a general demand for the broadcasting of such information. He did not think that that general demand existed.