BROADCASTING BRITISH RUGBY MATCHES.

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 40, 17 April 1930, Page 6

BROADCASTING BRITISH RUGBY MATCHES.

(CONGRATULATIONS may be extended to the delegates of the New Zealand Rugby Union who, at their annual meeting on Thursday last, decided after a full discussion that permission should be granted to the Radio Broadcasting Company to describe as play proceeded all matches under control of the Union played by the British team while in New Zealand. This ends a controversy which has aroused very intense interest, and even feeling, throughout the Dominion, more particularly in the rural districts. Discussion of the merits of the case by delegates seems to have been conducted on a high plane, and the varying points of view were presented with decorum and dignity. There is ‘Tittle need to traverse the arguments. at length, but we think it fitting that correction should be made to the suggestion of Mr. Dean that the action of the Radio Broadcasting Company in refusing a donation to the New Zealand Rugby Union, even for the purpose of installing wireless sets in hospitals, indicates any lack of sincerity or concern for inmates of hospitals. In raising that issue Mr. Dean, as we pointed out last week, is drawing a red herring across the scent. The Radio Broadcasting Company is quite sincere in wishing that, amongst other listeners, inmates of hospitals and charitable institutions should have the opportunity of hearing descriptions of Rugby matches and benefiting from radio. It is not the business of the Radio Broadcasting Company to provide that equipment, any more than it is the business of a newspaper to*provide, as was wisely suggested by an able editorial in the Christchurch "Times," spectacles for elderly or short-sighted people. It is the newspaper’s function to provide newspapers that those who pay may read. It is the broadcasting company’s function to put radio on the air that those who pay may listen. The funds provided by listeners are required to cover the whole cost of maintaining the broadcasting service. The attempt of a section of the Rugby authorities to arrogate to a specific object a donation from those funds has, rightly enough, not been supported by the general body of delegates. a

THE view of the majority of delegates was that the interests of the public were paramount, and that they were entitled to the broad cast descriptions of the match; secondly, that the cause of Rugb would lose very definitely if the publicity offered by such broadcasts was not utilised. This view is sound, and accordingly Mr, Sterling’s motion, after the defeat of two amendments-the one proposing that a fee should be exacted from the company for the privilege, and the other that the descriptions should apply only to test .matches-was carried. JT is fitting that one warning given by Mr. Sterling should be ‘ emphasised. This was that it would be unwise to allow the public to gain the impression that the Union was "becoming too mercenary." This charge might be levelled by anyone who cared to take in conjunction the demand for fees for broadcasting rights and the charges for attendance at the British matches. Without stressing those points in any way, we think it fair to make the comment that if any unduly mercenary attitude is emphasised by the authorities, and a dedire’ shown to extract the last possible shilling from the public for attentance at matches and rights connected therewith, the time will speedily arrive when the players themselves will begin to ask the question: Who really provides the sport that the public pays to see? Once that attitude begins to creep in, the players may look for more liberal . allowances in regard to travel, and even ultimately payment for their services. It is to the great credit of Rugby football in New Zealand that it has attained the standard it has as an amateur sport. That constitutes one of the chief charms and glories of the game, and it would be a thousand pities for any line of conduct to be instituted which even in any limited degree appeared to introduce a more mercenary atmosphere into the game. Rugby has a. fine record in the matter of charitable activities. Weare very glad that in this particular instance that record is not going to be smirched by what would have been an unprofitable and unpopular insistence upon any fee, for whatever purpose, for permission to broadcast the matches. On behalf of © listeners we heartily congratulate the delegates of the New Zealand Rugby Union upon their decision. y /