5,000 Listeners Record Disapproval of Rugby Broadcasting Ban

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 39, 11 April 1930, Page 1

5,000 Listeners Record Disapproval of Rugby Broadcasting Ban

An extraordinary situation has arisen. ‘The: delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union refused to grant an application made by the Broadcasting Company on behalf of listeners. Then, "Because the company was greatly concerned about the hospitals," the Management Committee resolved that the descriptions of the English matches could be broadcast if donations be made to hospitals! The Union takes the view that the whole question of broadcasting the matches centres round the hospitals, and that it would be a big factor to the company if the matches were broadeast. The first is wrong, the latter right, though not in the sense meant by the meeting. Letters that have been received on the subject show that the broadcasting is eagerly looked for by listeners throughout the country, and not only those in hospitals. Everyone not in hospitals cannot attend the matches, yet they, too, have expressed concern and indignation at the Unien’s. action. In the second place it would be a big factor for the company. All four stations would broadcast; relay lines would have to be secured, stations would have te be on the air when they should be silent, and extra staff would be employed, !and their reward-? To broadcast the matches will give Rugby football one of the greatest impulses it has yet had.

HE first application of the Broadcast- . ing Company to broadcast commentaries of the matches in .connection with the tour of the English team was refused by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Immediately the lis tening public registered its disapproval in the form of letters of protest to the company, to the daily Press, and to ourselves. The reason advanced by the Union was that the gate takings of the smaller centres would be affected They held the view that the privilege of broad casting running commentaries should be paid for by the company. "YY. During the Sarron-Donovan fight in Welling.ton Mr. .G. Aldridge, ‘secretary of the N.% Boxing Association, made an appeal to his un seen audience to express their opinion by. writing to him. Altogether about 500 letters were received, each letter representing the views of a large number of listeners. It has been estimated that the number of opinions registered was 5000. The general feeling was one of very strong objection to the action of the Rugby Union. Realising the ‘amount of interest that the listening public were displaying in the. matter the subject was brought up at the last meeting of‘ the Union, and the daily Press reports the meeting as follows :- "The Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union last evening decided that eZ if 4g Radio Broadcasting Company of New would make a2 donation te provide radio sets for the use. of patients in hospitals and charitable institutions, the Union would give it permission to broadcast reports of the matches played by the British team in the Dominion. , "There is a general impression abroad,’ said the chairman of the Union (Mr. 8. 8S. Dean), ‘that the Management Committee are opposed to -the broadcasting of matches on account of fear of pecuniary loss. This is quite erroneous, as the sending out of reports of matches will hot affect us one iota. The broadcasting of latches played by the'New Zealand team would ‘affect other unions, with the result that when Test matches are played these unions’ gates: would. suffer. Quite a number of unions have written to me on the subject. However, as the Radio Company have expressed such concern

for patients in hospitals, I move that we write asking them whether they are prepared to make a donation for the privilege of broadcasting the Test matches, the donations to be set aside to provide wireless sets in hospitals and charitable institutions. The Test matches will be a big factor to the Radio Company, and they should be prepared to make @ dona tion for the privilege of reporting them.’ "Mr. H. 8. Leith seconded the motion. "Mr.-'T, A, Fletcher said the chairman had set out the position fairly and clearly. The

Union’s offer’ would test the sincerity of the Radio Company. ' "The motion was carried unanimously. "The North Taranaki Radio Society wrote, asking the New Zealand Union to facilitate the broadcasting of the principal matches during the coming season. "The Buller Union wrote, stating that they were in favour of the matches of the British tour being broadcast where possible, as they would not have the opportunity of seeing them play." Newspaper Comment. "THE question of the broadcasting of the ‘matches to be played during the forthcom- ' ing visit of the English Rugby team has been the subject for considerable newspaper comment, _ The "Otago Daily Times" states :-"The chairman of the Otago Rugby Union said the delegates might give a lead on the question of broadcasting matches to the Union’s delegates, who would be appointed to attend the annual meeting of the New Zealawl Rugby Union. He personally would allow all matches to be broadcast. (Hear, hear!) They might lose revenue,

or they might not, by broadcasting, but it woulé certainly help to sustain interest in the game. There might be just a fear that commercialism was becoming too prominent an aspect in their game, to the detriment of the game for the game’s sake. (Hear, hear!) He would more that it be an instruction to their delegates to the meeting of the New Zealand Union to support the broadcasting of the matches with Britain. It was also decided that so far ax Otago was concerned, permission be granted to broadcast all matches." The "Christchurch Times’ on Friday last deyoted a leading article to the matter. The editor wrote in the following strain, under the heading "A Point in Advertising" :- "The New Zealand Rugby Union seems {o hare slipped into deep water in its little argument with the Broadcasting Company oyer the broadcasting of reports of the international football matches this season. . Its first view, that the broadcasting of reports would prejudice the attendance of matches, was understandable enough though rather shortsighted. But whateyer case it had in this respect it abandoned when it offered to allow the broadcasting of reports on condition that the Broadcasting Com- . pany provided receiving sets and apparatus for hospitals. "The Broadcasting Company, of course, is as . much concerned with the provision of receiving sets in hospitals as newspapers are with the provision of spectacles for elderly readers. And we should imagine that the radio dealers and the opticians would have their own views on this matter. What interests us, however is the point that may appeal, probably, neither to the Rugby Union nor the Broadcasting Company, but it appeals to a newspaper and a newspaper’s readers, If the example of the Rugby Union were followed, we should have the reporters exeluded from playing fields on the ground that people might prefer reading the reports to seeing the matches. ‘The fact is that whatever tends to stimulate | public interest or to widen the interest in events or in any business must have the general effect; of inducing people to become enthusiasts in the one case or purchasers in the other. This is the broad truth behind all publicity campaigns, and it is the justification for probably 90 per ¢en!, of the world’s advertising. We are glad

Extract from a letter to Mr. Aldridge: "I might mention that owing to the great advertisement the fight had at New Plymouth through your splendid description, there was a big crowd went over from here especially for the Wellington fight. This is in itself a proof that broadcasting does not keep people away, but, on the contrary, excites interest and a desire to see personally what has been described, It is, in fact, a jolly good advertisement. I hope to have the pleasure of thanking you personally in Dunedin. I am certainly going to see the next match."

Rugby Broadcast

¢Gontinued from front page.) to have the opportunity of discussing the point, because the attitude of the Rugby Union authorities expresses the view held by the majority of people who are not actively concerned in publicity and advertising in one form or another, "The Rugby Union simply expresses in another way what was probably in the mind of the Racing Conference when it placed a ban on the broadcasting of racing events. If we were to take the same view we should oppose the broadeasting of racing and football and other functions of public interest in the fear that it might prejudide the sale of newspapers. Actually;: we take the opposite view, that the more public interest in events is stimulated, the greater is-the demand, likely to be for printed reports. "Most people have had the experience of reading the account of an exciting struggle on the football field. and lamented the indifference that caused them to miss seeing the actual game. We should imagine the best possible advertisement the Rugby Unions could have for the matches with the British team ‘would be found in broadcast and printed reports of the early games of the tour. "Technically, broadcast accounts of football matches would be regarded by a publicity expert as highly useful institutional advertising. That is to say, it would tend to create a wider public interest in the game of football, and that is presumably one of the reasons for the existence of the Rugby Union.. Of course the Rugby Union authorities are not singular in their ignorance of the psychology of publicity, and it is not merely for their benefit that we are making this comment. The lesson is one to be learned by everyone concerned in the management of affairs." Over the Air. ITH respect to the large amount of correspondence received on the subject, Mr. Aldridge spoke from 2YA on Saturday last, "Hyver since Saturday last communieations have poured in. First of ail let me thank those who bombarded me with over a hundred and fifty telegrams. These reached me either during or immediately after the broadeast. ‘Then there were the lettersover 450 of them to date, and still coming by every mail-splendid letters they are, too. Being busy, I could not attempt to acknowledge all these individually, much: as I should like to

ae 1 do so. However, the Broadcasting Company has kindly undertaken to do.’ this for me, so that in due course one who telegraphed or wrote to m will receive a written acknowledgment. I have described the letters as splendid. I wish you had them in front of -you, for it would do your hearts good to read them. It would take me all night, and longer,. to read them to you. The letters, taken as a whole, sum up the views of all classes and conditions of people. Among the writers-are doctors, lawyers, clergymen, business men, farmers, way-back settlers, quite a considerable number of ladies, and inmates of hospitals and other institutions. A more thoroughly representative summing up of public opinion one could not desire. "Speaking, I honestly believe, for many thousands of listeners out New Zealand, these hundreds of writers say :- We earnestly desire the privilege of being able to listen-in to descriptions of sporting events which it is our ill-fortune not to be able to witness. We want the next best thing to a first-hand thrill; we believe that our circumstances entitle us to this privilege, and we appéal to the highest sporting instincts of all sports authorities to see that we are not denied this boon. "This is an absolutely fair summary of the sentiments expressed: by these hundreds of listeners who have written to me. And, let me add that out of all these hundreds of letters there were only four from Wellington, and two of these were from hospitals! The significance of this fact is obvious. 7 Those who were intérested in the fight, and were living near enough to get to it, got to it! "And so. it will be every time. A lover of Rugby, for instance, is not going to be content to listen to a description when it is at all possible for him to see the actual play. To this tlie letters I have received bear eloquent testimony.’ During his: talk, Mr. Aldridge addressed himself to Mr. Dean, "who," he said, "has gone over to Kapiti Island for the week-end to escape the constant questioning," but he is little better off, for there are two radio sets over there. The speaker went on to say that Mr. Dean was a sport who knew from personal experience what the broadcasting of sporting events meant and that he was personally in favour of broadeasting. But Mr. Dean thought it should be paid for, he his suggestion to the company. As Aldridge was not one of the casting Company’s paid officials, he had no intention of dwelling on the suggestion. He viewed the matter purely as a sport and was appealing on behalf of sports who could not attend the events they would like. The Correspondence. "THE 500 odd letters altogether reeeived come from Bluff to the . far north, and indicate that everywhere the unpopular ban is the topic of conversation, All the létters expressed great admiration of the broad- / east, and their writers were keenly in- ¥ terested in the future of sports broadeasting. Most represented large numbers of ple, and, as several Jetters state, rom So io 80 were listening-in, it can be estimated that each letter represents. the expressed opinion of at least 10 people-

® total of 5,000. © This is significant: 5,000 people expressed directly their Shes to have broadcastings of sports tinued. The letters themselves are interesting, as they bring out some points of view that should be carefully studied by the Rugby Union. The union are Members of the sporting public as are those who are corresponding. As repreSentative of a great body of the people the feelings of that body must be considered or their representation is only a matter of office-not of true responsibility to the public. In general, the letters came from four classes: 1. Those who are isolated or detained, but who wish to attend. 2. The maimed, sick, and disabled in and out of hospitals. Ps Officials of other sports bodies, THose whose enthusiasm has been whetted by the broadcasts and who in: tend to witness the sport when the opportunity occurs. This class includes many ladies. A few extracts from the letters received will tell the story for themselves, The isolated: "Perhaps if some of the delegates living three miles along a clay road in the back-blocks had to depend on wireless for their entertainmetn they might reconsider their decision." -"Would suggest you send some of the delegates up here and we will find a job for them in the bush this winter.""-"Do you think the price of the best seat would have held me from the contest-No."-"We live 17 miles back from the nearest township and six wo

ee SV VeeSVeeVee SVS aac Ratan etna :\y miles of this distance is mud road, mail weekly. Wireless is the only thing that makes life endurable. I should like to plant a few of the R.U. officials back here on the day of the Test matches," The maimed, sick, and disabled: "I was unfortunate enough in stopping more than my share from a Fritz ma-chine-gun, and am now disabled. I ecannot attend sports to any extent, so these broadeasts are a God-send."

"I have been a keen supporter of the game for over 40 years, as a player, secretary, captain and president of my club; referee, member, and vice-president of the Bush Districts Union, sole selector for same, delegate to referees’ conference, and the union’s representative at the memorable send-off to the 1905 All. Blacks in the Wellington Town Hall. I have made considerable financial sacrifice in the interests of the game generally. It now seems hard that, being unable to at-

tend matches through spinal injury, I am to be denied the pleasure of listening-in." From Wanganui Hospital an appreciation, and "these broadcasts are heartily appreciated," signed by "Ward Three." A delegate of the "Old Men" at Park Island Home, Napier: "Our ages range from 60 to 90; we have little chance of seeing a match. Your efforts to have all sport broadcast is a fine idea." Thirty-two members of the Upper Sanatorium, Cashmere Hills, Chrisichurch, sign an appreciation-"Surely the R.U. do not wish to penalise the sick. Were we not sick radio would not keep us away," and so the tone of the remaining letters from hospitals in all parts of the country. In almost every case radio is only a means of appeasing a great desire to be present. Other appeals come from individual sufferers who could not attend. There was a note from a player who was included in the team that toured New South Wales in 1884, one from a blind sufferer whose only contact with the outside world was radio. The chairman of an institute for the blind wrote on behalf of those under his care. The tone of the letters from other union officials and interested listeners was one of indignation and surprise that their delegates should take upon themselves the unwarranted power to deprive them of the broadcast. "Any party of men holding temporary appointments as an executive should remember that they are there to do anything in their power to further the sport and promote interest in it. The council are merely representative and (Concluded on page 25.)

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(Continued from page 3.) owe a duty to their sporting fraternity. The original meaning of the word sport is gradually fading into the background." "We are pushing the question at our annual meeting." "A member of the Wellington R.U. was one of the 40 Maoris and pakehas who listened to my set and prior to the broadcast was expounding his reasons for withholding the broadcasting of the matches, However, no one showed greater elation when it was announced that the station would pass over to the stadium than he." A secretary of a very prominent provincial union writes :- "As you know I have been against broadcasting, considering that it might affect the gates in a small town. But now I am converted, and after Saturday, am willing to pay an extra fee to know that the company would guarantee a report of the bigger matches, in football and boxing." That radio is a good advertisement is born out in the following letters :-"As the result of to-day’s description we shall see the return contest in Dunedin." "I was so much impressed by the first broadcast that I made all arrangements to see the Wellington match, but ‘something slipped’ and I was unable to get over. Because of your broadcast a big crowd went from here," "IT. have never seen a fight, but now when the opportunity offers I shall be an onlooker." "Who would be content to listen in when they could be there in person? Not even a Scotsman." 7 ; ‘ There are touches of humour among the letters. Listeners will remember Mr. Aldridge said that he was very cold. Not a few sympathised with him; one man wished’he could have been closer to offer him a whisky. Another hopes that in Dunedin a hotwater bottle will be provided. A correspondent describing the enthusiasm at his home, says: "I was afraid someone would upper-cut the loudspeaker." An offer comes from Kohuratuai, suggesting that if Mr. Aldridge wants a variation in his sport there is plenty of pigshooting to be had there. "Just let me know," The Position As It is, qT appears that the union has not realised fully the position, They are a sporting body who represent the sporting fraternity, This great sec(tion of the public are demanding the proadeasting of the matches they cannot attend. Are the delegates going to refuse? The argument that the smaller unions will, suffer appears not to be sup-

--- ported by the unions themselves, who feel that their members would do better listening to the description. The request that the company should pay for the privilege is not logical. The popularity of certain sports bears witness that broadcasting is a means of advertisement and does not spoil the attendances. New Zealand is the only country where broadcasting is at all advanced in which broadcasting of sporting events is prohibited and must we let our visitors, the Englishmen, leave our shores with the impression that radio broadcasting, one of the premier sciences of the day, is being smothered? . To refuse to broadcast the matches is anything but complimentary to.the Englishmen when the Australian games were broadcast, and rebroadcast, some twelve months ago. Since then radio has advanced. Correspondents’ Views. [TX an appeal tg the New Zealand Rugby Union to grant permission to the Radio Broadcasting Company to _broadeast the matches played in New Zealand by the English team, Mr. R. Leslie Jones voices a number of familiar arguments in support of the proposal, Mr. Jones expresses the opinion that the matches played by the visitors in metropolitan areas will be witnessed by "capacity gates," but that thousands will not be able to proceed to the point where the various matches are to be played, and only radio can give those unfortunate yet willing enthusiasts a chance to follow the games. The matter is of national importance to New Zealand," says Mr. Jones, "and is not now a question of £.s.d, between the Rugby Union and the Broadcasting Company; the matter is definitely one of public importance, public duty, and ptublie sportsmanship.

.I suggest that permission be granted the Broadcasting Company forthwith, and that an appeal be made by the Rugby Wnion to listeners throughout New Zealand to forward a donation (even if only 1/-) to the Rugby Union’s accident fund; and that a definite appeal, to be known as the ‘Listeners’ 1/- Fund’ be started right away, wide publicity to be given to same, and the company to give its assistance to the ‘appeal’ by ‘broadeasting information concerning same from each of the YA stations in New Zealand. Donors could forward their 1/- in stamps to a central address, preferably the local offices of the various Rugby unions. This fund would produce hundreds of pounds from satisfied listeners throughout the Dominion. ... To the New Zealand Rugby Union I would say, show that the union is composed of ‘sports,’ and’ ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ To each member of the New Zealand . Rugby Union I would further say you are delegates to-day, but you won’t always be a delegate; and the day may come, quite soon in fact, when each of you may feel grieved to think you denied your own New Zealanders the right, privilege and expected opportunity of hearing per medium of radio the progress of the tour of the English Rugby team."