Another Reason for the Racing Ban

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 11, 28 September 1928, Page 11

Another Reason for the Racing Ban

T the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, held on September 17, the vice-president, Mr. I. G. Dunean, in the course of his report to the meeting, referred to the ban on broadeast descriptions. He gave the "main reasons" which weighed with the club’s delegates in suporting the ban. His line of argument was somewhat subtle, but quite unconvincing, for people who remember the reasons given by the conferences will now want to know what really are the reasons for the ban. T is worth while publishing an extract from Mr. Dunecan’s statement. The excerpt is as follows :- "Tt was felt that owing to the almost complete absence of a leisured class in New Zealand, only a small percentage of listeners-in are in a position to spend a day enjoying the broadcasting of the races from the course. Of this section the vast majority could oniy listen-in at the expense of their duties and avocations, thus reducing their productive capacity causing friction with their employers and economic loss to the country. In fact, I venture to predict that if the broadcasting of races during the progress of the racing becomes a general practice it will not be long before Parliament, in the interests of the community, will step in and put a stop to the broadcasting of all sporting events until after working hours. But apart from these results, any or all of which would be very damaging to racing, the great bulk of listeners-in would be denied the opportunity of he.ring the races broadcast. In the interests of the subscribers to the Broadeastiung Company themselves, therefore, it will be seen that the decision of the Racing Conference is a wise one."

R. DUNCAN does not say a word about bookmakers and illegal betting, about which somuch was said by the conferences. Instead, attention is directed to the danger of interfering with the business life of the community. How deep is the concern felt for the business community? The racing authorities do their best to arouse interest in racing, irrespective of whether the public can attend a race meeting and whether the day is a holiday or not. Every means possibleadvertisements in the daily papers, the sale of programmes in the _ streets, posters, special trains and car services -is used to arouse the public, and all are welcomed. Broadeasting alone is criticised and condemned for inciting non-racegoers. As was said concerning the previous arguments advanced by the racing authorities, this argument seems like hypocritical nonsense. especially when read in conjunction with the plea that the ban is in the interests of listeners themselves! It will be interesting to see what are the next reasons advanced by the > racing authorities-perhaps they wilil yet give their real reasons. So far the reasons given for the "ban" have been : (1) The "ban" was imposed to cur} illegal betting as promoted by broadeasting, but not of course by the same news posted up outside newspaper offices or published in the Press. (2) The privilege of broadcasting should be paid for, although full facilities are given all the members of the Press without charge. (8) It is really better for the sick not to have broadcasts in the afternoon when they might have visi-

_tors-let "em wait till the evening. (4) Broadeasting races encourages people to leave off work to listen, and that is bad for the country. No harm, of course, is done by people leaving off work to attend the races!-it is only the description that is harmful. If the Conference had not banned broadcasting, Parliament would have had to step in to stop the economic disaster ! What will be the next reason advanced ? Racing and Radio. AS§ a radio enthusiast first, a sportsman second, and an economic student third, I feel I must reply to Mr. Ian Dunean’s explanation regarding the prohibition of the microphone on the racecourse. Whilst I confess I cannot quite understand the reference to a "leisured class" I am quite convinced that the percentage of listeners who appreciate a description of racing events is far in excess of the number Mr. Dunean would have us believe. Further, if listening to a description of races diminishes production and causes an economic loss to the country, how much more so does racing itself? From an economic and productive standpoint racing is the biggest drawback to the country’s prosperity. It serves as the means of a gamble, and would not be tolerated by any Government .were it not for the taxes derived from same. To revert back to the productive standpoint, I venture to say that if the broadeasting of racing events is a menace to the productive capacity of New Zealand the attendance at race meeting; is ten times more so. Further, if

Parliament were to put a stop to th broadcasting of all sporting events dur ing working hours, in the interests o the community, it must, to be consis ent, put a stop to the holding of al sporting events until after workin; hours. Mr. Dunean, in his last paragrap says: "These, then, are the reason which actuated the club’s delegates i supporting the resolution of the ¢o ference," to which I reply, "This is : weaker excuse than the former on which demanded payment for th privilege." The real reason lays in th desire to obtain facilities for the tel graphing of moneys to the racecourses and if ever that facility is granted, th racing authorities will be only to anxious to have a description of al races broadeast in order that the publi might know at the earliest possibl moment if their wagers have been su eessful, and so that they may hav time to again play up their winning on the totalisator. The productivenes of the country does not count at a with the racing clubs when a meetin is being held.-Consistent (Wellin ton).