RADIO AND RACES

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19389, 15 August 1928, Page 12

RADIO AND RACES

REFERENCE IN THE HOUSE. A DOMESTIC MATTER. £TS3 ?BB§B fsP«etal Service.] WELLINGTON, August 14. There ig no immediate prospect of the Government interfering in the dispute between the Racing Conference and the Radio Brqadcasting Company concerning the broadcasting of reports of race meetings. This fact was made plain in tho House of Representatives tq-day, when *he Prime Minister said the'question appeared to be a domestic one and asked if it was suggested that the Government should tell the Conference that it must allow the broadcasting of details of the racing, Intervention from the. Government could come only as a result pf a tremendous public demand for wireless reports, .and that such a widespread demand exist-. Ed he doubted. . . ~ The leader of the Opposition Mr H E. Holland, said he would like to know whether the Post and Telegraph Department had taken any action reearoing the attitude adopted by the Racing Conference concerning the broadcasting of race meetings. I he Racing Conference, he said, seemed to have taken upon itself the power which belonged fa Parliament on one hand and the Court on the other. The Kadip 'Broadcasting Company had announced' 'that' it was. gqjng to continue broadcasting irrespective of any action oh the'part of the Racing Conference. The company was receiving assistance from the Post Office, antf the question"in "dtepqto really came within the scope of tlie Department to a certain extent. It would be interesting to know what attitude the Department proposed to adopt in the matter. '%hpn the Tunney-Beemey fight was on " added Mr Holland, "members of the House were able to fojlow the bout sis 'it"proceeded, and I can't see the difference between listening in to a TJiiailis-tic encounter and listening m to a horse >ce.'' Tho Racing Conference contend that the broadcasting of race meetings will lead to an increase in gambling, but it is hard to imagine how that could possibly happen nndtl existing conditions, and in any case if a veto is to be operated, surely it ought to be operated by Parliament an d not by the Racing Conference. "lam in accord with those wbp resent the attitude of the Eaeing Conference on the question,'' said Mr R. W. Smith (Wqimftrino). «Thp claim tfiat the broadcasting of the events will .increase- gambling is sheer hypocrisy. A>'e.ldy top maiiy restrictions s-re being placed on the liberty pf the subject.

The Racing Conference proposal is a breach of faith with the general public, i feel that in the interests of those who have been induced to purchase wireless sets, particularly those m the country districts, the action of the Kacing Conference should be taken in hand by the Government, and that the proposed restrictions should not be allowed to be enforced." *,.•„, "The question as to whether this or that should be broadcasted is a domestic matter between the company ana the Eacing Conference," said the Prima Minister. "It is a matter for themselves to arrange what should be broadcasted, and so long as the information sent out does not contravene public policy there is no reason why it should not bo broadcasted. The Eacmg Conference is responsible for the government of racing in New Zealand, and riehtly bo. We. are not discussing racing to-day, but. I say that racing is far safer and better controlled under the present system than if it™" governed L Parliament. (Hear, hear.) On the general question of public pokey, Parliament, of course, must cpme in.The' Prime Minister said that both the racing clubs and the broadcasting company had their interests to serve TndVre was no doubt there were two sides to the present dispute. He was not in possession of all the pornfa> a issue, but it was possible that the Bacing Con rence had'taken the stand that the privilege of broadcasting the racing was P worth g something to the broadcast"MrTHorn (Wakatipn): That is the Po The Prime Minister: If it is vorth j something to the Broadcasting Com, Zv the Racing Conference would Sder the question of supply and Sand. I ™»v completely off the mark, and I only say that m a general W3 Mr Y- H. Potter (RaskM): And g* poor old public suffer between the two The Prime Minister emphasised that the Government could only intervene if there was a general demand ter the broadcasting of such He did not think that that general demm f J.' Howard (Christchurdi South) said it would be unfair to compel the racing people to have the r entertainment, broadcasted, just as it would be unfair to compel an opera company to have its entertainment broadcasted. As the Prime. Monster had stated, it was a domestic matter between the. Racing C:nforehee and the Broadcasting Company. If the company could make arrangements, witfl the Conference, then there was no doubt the listeners-in would want tho < service. There was only one way oirt, namely, the formation of a Bpard, the . same as they had in England, and on \ which the listeners would be repre? . sented.