BROADCASTING OF RUGBY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21120, 22 March 1934, Page 8

BROADCASTING OF RUGBY

; —I ' UNION "AFFIRMS PRINCIPLE" ! | EFFECT ON GATE TAKINGS i ; The annual general meeting of delegates to the Canterbury Rugby Union last night affirmed the prin- \ ciple of the broadcasting of fuotball | 1 matches provided the conditions j under which the rights be granted | i were under the control of the com- ; mittee. j The question canie from the , Christchureh Football Club. on l i whose behalf Mr u. H. Frater [ \ moved: "That the Christchureh Football Club is strongly in favour of the broadcasting of all matches from i Lancaster Park during the sea- i son.'' I

The chairman (.Mr A. E. McPhail) .said he understood it was the idea of the Christchureh Club that the committee should have .some control over the broadcasting. 1 Mr \V. M. Stewart asked if there ; was any definite evidence that the j broadcasting of matches affected the takings at the gate. The chairman said the Wellington Union, which was very much in favour of broadcasting, found that i its gate receipts had gone down ; greatly. Another aspect was the j financial effect the broadcasting would have on the sub-unions. Another point was the effect the broadcasting would have on small clubs. He was of opinion that the • Canterbury Rugby Union would be greatly benefited bv the broadcasting of matches, but many things would have to be considered before a definite decision was readied. Mr E. V. Phillips said the matter should be settled at the meeting of ; delegates to the New Zealand Rugby ! Football Union. He quoted the figj ures of the gate takings at Wellington. which had dropped about £I2OO between 1920 and 1933. Mi- V. L. Jensen said that with the important games Canterbury had ■ had in Christchureh last year, thebroadcasting would not have affected j the gate at all. Mr D. Ryan (Ellesmere) said he j thought that broadcasting was of great benefit to the country districts, but the gates were affected by it. Mr H. E. Davis said he thought it ; should be arranged that one match j should be broadcast each Saturday. | He supposed that if the Wellington j gate takings had dropped as was ! stated, broadcasting must be responj sible for it. | Mr J. K. Moloney moved as an i amendment: "That "this meeting of | delegates affirms the principle of the i broadcasting of matches, but that • the conditions under which the j rights be granted, financial and j otherwise, be under the control of j the committee."' I Another delegate thought the | question of advertising had more to jdo with the size of the gates than j anything else, and that broadcasitng ! had no effect on them. ! The amendment was carried on | the voices.