Union’s Television Ban May Not Apply To Schools

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 19

Union’s Television Ban May Not Apply To Schools

The direct telecasting of the annual match between Christchurch Boys’ High School and Christ’s College should not conflict with the ban on the televising of Rugby games, according to Mr T. C. Morrison, chairman of the executive council of the New Zealand Union.

Mr Morrison told “The Press” yesterday that his comment was only a personal opinion and that the matter would have to be approved by the council.

Delegates at the annual ■meeting of the New Zealand union decided unanimously to ban direct telecasts of all Rugby matches. This decision had the support of the executive council.

When the Canterbury Rugby Union was asked by the Boys’ High School board of governors for permission to have its annual match televised, the provincial body gave permission, but also forwarded the request to the New Zealand union for its opinion.

Mr Morrison said that when the annual meeting decided to ban direct telecasts it had in mind the effect that television would have on smaller unions when matches

were shown on Saturday afternoons.

“It was, I think, a correct decision, but the ban was not a blanket one on all Rugby matches. “We are not anti-television and it is not our business to try and stop television. All we want to do is to protect the smaller unions,” he said. “A game such as an annual school match, which was played on a Wednesday and for which there was no charge, was not the type of match that the New Zealand union considered banning for television purposes.” Not Regular Feature

Mr P. J. Lawrence, television supervisor in Christchurch, said that if the New Zealand union gaVe permission for school matches to be televised, the Broadcasting Corporation would not necessarily make these a regular feature. The Boys’ High SchoolChrist’s College match had been chosen because of its history and the interest it aroused in Christchurch, he said.