Council Bans Telecast Of School Rugby

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 12

Council Bans Telecast Of School Rugby

Permission for the live telecasting of the annual Rugby match between Christ’s College and Christchurch Boys' High School on July 17 was declined by the executive council of the New Zealand Rugby Union in Christchurch yesterday. The decision was riot unanimous, the chairman of the council (Mr T. C Morrison) being among those in opposition. Earlier this month Mr Morrison had told "The Press" that the direct telecasting of the match should not conflict with the New Zealand union’s ban on the televising of Rugbygames But this, he satd. was only a personal opinion and the matter would have to be approved by the council. At yesterday's meeting Mr Morrison said the decision reached by the annual meeting of the union on live telecasting of games was to protect the interests of the smaller unions But he doubted that the direct telecasting of this inter-school match, being olayed on a Wednesday. would constitute a ■hreat to the game Flexible Attitude

The secretary (Mr G H Geddes) pointed out that a representative match- between South Canterbury and MidCanterbury would be played on the same day at Timaru But Mr J L. Griffiths said the council should adopt a flexible attitude on the Question

Mr T H. Pearce a strong opponent of live telecasting at the annual meeting, again adopted a firm stand Any concession given now he declared could not be retracted easily The council’s position should be one of “watt and see.” Mr Pearce saw the application for the live telecasting of the match as “the thin end of the wedge ’’ If the game in Christchurch was telecast the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation would want to telecast live college matches in Auckland—which were played on Saturdays—and the council would have no valid reason to decline ’he anoltcations Mr Pearce said if the schools concerned were represented on the Canterbury Rugby Union and thereby affiliated to the New Zealand union, it would be an open aet of defiance ‘o recognised authority if they were to have the game tele

vised in the face of a council decision to the contrary. Reporting on discussions between a deputation from the union and officers of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Morrison said if there were no delayed telecasts of Rugby matches it was not the fault of the union The corporation, he said, was not interested in the union's offer of delayed telecasts after 7 p.m., but only in direct telecasts.