LEAGUE BROADCAST

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 98, 27 April 1934, Page 13

LEAGUE BROADCAST

PERMISSION REFUSED. DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED. IMMEDIATE PROTEST. A strong protest was made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby League last evening, when attention was drawn to information published in yesterday's "Star" that the broadcasting authorities had rejected an application made by station IZB (the Friendly Road) for permission lo broadcast Rugby League matches from Carlaw Park. The executive was instructed to telegraph immediately to the Postmaster-General entering a strong protest against unfair discrimination at the cost of the many supporters of the game who paid for licenses as listeners-ill. The executive also was requested to communicate with inrlivi dual members of Parliament on the subject. and the incoming committee was urged to take further action, if necessary. as it was a matter of urgency to the code and to the general public. Mr. E. Stalhvorthy (Northland) said that the reported rejection of the formal application was a matter of serious importance to thousands of people who paid for radio licenses. Free Service Offered. Another member said IZB had put in its application two months ago for permission to relay from Carlaw Park, and, as no objection had been raised, all was ready for a beginning ou Saturday. The station was prepared to give free service. On the other hand, it was remarkable that the Broadcasting Hoard was going to broadcast Kugby Union out of its public funds. Soccer also was to be broadcast through IYA, and if this decision to withhold permission to broadcast was allowed to ntand, Kugby League would be the only football code in Auckland not "011 the air" this season. Mr. H. Doble (Auckland): The Auckland League has had 110 official reply yet to its application for permission to broadcast. Tho Chairman (.Mr. Cyril Sneddon): Well, it looks as though there is at the moment a biui, or threatened ban, 011 Rugby League football —just another tilt at the code. We must decide here tonight to enter a strong protest, get the support of all our leagues and their supporters and not lie afraid to bring such pressure to bear as may surprise the broadcasting authorities. It is unfair treatment. There can be 110 earthly reason for a refusal. "Strings Have Been Pulled." Mr. W. J. Taylor (South Auckland): This ban is 110 hasty decision apparently, because station IZB applied for tho neccssary permission a couple of months ago. The strings have been pulled. We should not tolerate the insult to IZB, any more than we should to the Auckland League. Mr. X. A. Kylo also denounced the decision. It was made plain by Mr. W. J. Hindman (Hawke's Bay) that station IZB had a clear air channel 011 Saturday afternoons and was prepared to go 011 tho air at no cost to the Government or anybody else. Even the operators were prepared to pive their services gratuitiously. Permission to broadcast for five months could be given without any question of hours. Position in Christchurch. "The Broadcasting Board recently approached tho Canterbury Rugby Union and offered a financial consideration for tho right to broadcast matches," observed Mr. R. W. Pollock. Mr. Rate (Wellington delegate): And yet the board is tryinjr to keep the League off the air altogether. A™Member: Every sportsman of any code will support its in this matter.