Why Perpetuate the Racing Ban?

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 53, 19 July 1929, Page 10

Why Perpetuate the Racing Ban?

Reason ed Application by Broadcasting ~~ Company Refused

HE attitude of the J oint Committee’ on. this question is one, surely,'-on which -the sporting community is eutitled to ask explanation. In order ‘that the company’s attitude in regard to thé matter may be made quite clear to every interested licensed listener, and to the publie generally, Mr.-A. R.’ Harris, the general manager. of the company, has authorised us to make public through our columns ‘the communication’ addressed by him:to the New Zealand ‘Racing and ‘Trotting Conference, under-date March. 8, 1929, in which the case for radio listeners. was fully set, out, and the conference’s objections to..broadcasting, as: understood by the company and the public, traversed in detail. Offer by. Company. _.. ° ‘HAT communication reads :- ~" "We have reason'to believe that the decision of the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferénce prohibiting the-broadcasting of descriptive reports of racing and trotting- meetings ° may, have been occasioned by a misconception of the Broadcasting Company’s policy relative to ‘this branch. of" its seryice,.and to-the consequent . belief that the company’ desired. to secure. from. the conference: san unrestricted privilege. "We have, therefore, pleasure in requesting the conference. to be good ‘enough to reopen the -question, . and to consider our application in the-light of the: company’s policy as stated hereunder. #It has been pointed out- to us (ou your: behalf) that the broadcasting of all race: meetings throughout New Zealand would be a’ practice inimical: to. the sport, in that it’ would tend -to arouse. the open hostility of that sec-

tion of the.community by which horse racing is held-in disfavour. We believe we were the first to recognise this danger when, as the outcome of our earliest broadcasts, we réceived from country. clubs-in all parts of the Dominion. requests to include their meetings in our rota, In ‘the circumstances we quite’ agree that it would not be in the

interests of the sport, or the public, to make a practice of broadcasting race meetings: generally. "We are also in accord with the view expressed by the conference concerning the economic ‘disadvantage of unduly attracting: public attention towards‘ the jsport on days other than holidays... As ‘to whether or not. the practice of ‘the racing clubs is in accordance."with the precept of the conference is..a-matter which may be re-; garded-‘as-irrelevant to the Broadcasting Company’s, application; we recognise that "there are necessities-such as" the equitable and satisfactory. apportionment’ of racing dates among themany clubs-which render impracticable a strict adherence. to this principle. . a, -A Limited Service. HE writer, in discussing the matter with interested persons, has made it‘clear that the company fully appreciated -the fact that it would he undesirable to: broadcast all-race meet-. ings, ahd ‘that it did not intend to do this even if permission were granted by ‘the racing authorities. ~ "AIL the -Broadeasting Company wishes to: do-ALL‘IT HAS DESIRED, TO DO FROM. THE OUTSET-is to broadcast metropolitan racing and trotting meetings.on public holidays (including Saturdays), for the benefit of those interested: people who. could not attend the meetings, and at a time when ‘such broadeasts' could not possibly interfere with the business and industrial occupations. of the community. "Our broadcasts would’ be restricted: entirely’. to. the main metropolitan meetings, involving a very limited number of broadcasts: per annum. The Broadcasting Company is quite prepar--ed to accept the responsibility for this policy of ‘restriction, but, if so desired, would’ bev pleased, t6. confer with any. committee set. up "by the conference to. ‘deal with this matter. "The conference need have no fear -of the present. Broadcasting Company ever over-doing the . broadcasting. .of racing or trotting meetings.

Alternatives Discussed. * N making this, renewed application "for authority to broadcast metropolitan meetings, we desire to point out that the alternative suggested by the. conference, viz., the broadcasting of a realistic report. of.the day’s. racing at some ‘time subsequent to the last race.

of the day, is quite impracticable so far. asthe Broadcasting Company is concerned, and, in our opinion, particularly undesirable so far as the interests: ‘of ‘the conference itself are ‘concerned. The method suggested is impracticable, because‘""(1).The broadcasting service is necessarily: based on a classified sche-dule-under. which the respective feat‘ures. of the services are, broadcast at certain fixed times experience has: shown to be the most suitable for the "particular. service. "(2) As the last-race of the day usually. eventuates between 5 and 6 p.m.,. it. follows that. the broadcast sug-. gested by the conference would-have to be put over after 6 p.m. (Any time hetween 5 and 6 would be useless, as during that.hour. the great majority of people are returning to their homes.) "(3)} Under the existing scheduie, the children’s session occupies the air from 6 to 7.p.m., and we feel sure your conference will ‘realise that any interference with the session for the purpose of putting over the story of an afternoon’s horse racing would provoke ‘an outburst of popular disapproval from one end of the Dominion to the other. "(4) The hour between 7 and 8 p.m. ‘is exclusively reserved for the broadeasting of news and information, covering a ‘wide range of subjects of universal interest, ie., market reports, sporting results of all kinds, British Official _ Wireless cables covering items of international moment, general news, special announcements, and informative lecturettes. 7 '"(5) The broadcasting of a descriptive account of the day’s racing would occupy at the very least twenty minutes, and in all probability would ‘take not less than half an hour, and would inevitably involve such a dislocation of the news service as we are confident would not be tolerated by the great body of. listeners, especially as they have learned by experience that. the Dare results of five or six race meetings.

can be put over in less than ten minutes, "(6) Quite obviously, the descriptive report could not be put over after 8 p.m. without giving widespread offence, as from 8 o’clock onward is the session reserved. exclusively for musical and elocutionary entertainment,’ ’ "(7) Apart from the very definite bar. of impracticability-which we trust we: have made clear to your con-ference-it is questionable: whether the method suggested would not be regarded even by interested listeners as a tiresome and belated make-believe of no real value. . Objections Reviewed. "The method suggested: is, in our opinion, undesirable so far as the inter-’ ests of thé conference are concerned: "(1) Because the broadcasting of a lengthy and stirring description of the day’s racing at a time when the great majority of listeners of all classes are listening-in would be infinitely more calculated to arouse the hostility of those opposed to racing than would a descriptive broadcast straight from the course at a time when a much lesser number, comprised chiefly of those interested in the sport, are listening-in, especially when the evening broadcast would be accentuating the hostility of those who were being deprived of a large part of the news service, to which they have been accustomed. "(2) Because the absence of the broadeast straight from the course is resented by many. kéen followers of the sport whose.circumstances have ‘leprived them of the pleasure of attending the meeting. r "We shall be glad if you will be good enough to bring this application: before the: executive of the conference, or: of any committee which may bé. authorised -to.deal with the matter, at the earliest opportunity, aS you will realise that in the event of a favourable decision we are desirous of recommencing this service as soon as possible.’ "Our application is specifically fyr authority to. broadcast metropolitan meetings on holidays and Saturdays, but should the conference deem it to be expedient that we should broadcast the full programme of these meetings we shall be prepared to-do so, as upon consideration it appears to us that abstention from broadcasting on the few days. which are not holidays might draw public attention to the reason for abstention. ; "We shall be pleased to arrange for a representative of.the company to attend any meeting at which this ‘matter may be dealt with, sliould such attendance be’ desired by your conference." 2 oe No Effect on ‘Conference. Ww ‘Yeply to the above communication ' the company was advised that the application could not be dealt with: before the full conference of the combined committee of the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conference in July. . In. order that. there’ should. be no possibility of the matter being inadvertently overlooked, the general manager of the Broadcasting Company, under ‘date the 6th-inst., sent to the secretary

‘HE Joint Committee of the Racing and Trotting Conference, _ sitting in Wellington during the past week, reaffirmed its decision of last year, and again rejected ‘the Radio Broadcasting Company’s application to be permitted to render a service greatly desired " many thousands of listeners throughout the Dominion. WHY? . . 2

of the Racing Conference a reminder of the company’s application, with a request that his letter of March 8 last should be submitted for the consideration of the combined committee. This. presumably, was done, with the result that the application was again rejected. Why? Why? "On the pretext that broadcasting * plays into the hands of bookmakers? Surely not, because it, is common knowledge that long before radio came into being ‘the bookmakers had instituted. a very complete, comprehensive, and efficient intelligence service ‘of: their-own, by means of ‘which practically . every. mémber of the illegal pro~ fession in every part of the Dominion is promptly informed of the result of every race, both metropolitan and provincial "On the ground that broadcasting interferes with the commercial and _industrial occupations of the community? The terms of the Broadcasting Company’s application leaves not the _ slightest justification for that excuse. "Because broadcasting is supposed to prejudicisdlly affect ‘the attendance at meetings? Against any such mere supposition must: be placed the substantial decline in the volume of totalisator. receipts recorded sinee. broadeasting was banned by the conference. Then, WHY?