ATHLETICS Centre Criticises Radio Reports

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 15

ATHLETICS Centre Criticises Radio Reports

The standard of athletic commentaries given by an announcer of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation was criticised ait a meeting of the executive of the

Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association last evening. Reference was made to “inaccuracies” and the “lack of atmosphere” in the commentaries given over the radio about the recent New Zealand senior men’s and women’s championships at Napier.

It was stated, however, that probably only those intimately associated with the sport would be aware of this. Mr G. R. Young recalled the centre had complained of the quality of the announcing two or three years ago. The announcer had absolutely ignored the field events, including those when he was announciing at the Rome Olympics and the Perth Empire Games, said Mr Young, who also referred to other aspects. Mr N. Smith: He doesn’t know any athlete south of Wellington. Tactful The chairman (Mr J. E. Millar): We have to be a little tactful about this. Mr K. S. Jameson: I don’t think he is any worse than Winston McCarthy. "Are we going to be tactful to the point of silence?” asked Mr W. A. Kennedy. Writing to the N.Z.A.A.A. would not have any effect, said Mr E. Lunn. The Broad-

: casting Corporation made its own appointments and that was that. On paper the corporation could not get anyone more technically i equipped for the job. The announcer concerned was a member of the management committee of the New Zealand association and a member of the final selection panel for Olympic and Empire Games teams, said Mr Lunn. “Perhaps the broadcasting don’t know he’s no good,” said Mr Lunn. Not Alone Athletics was not alone In this, said Mr B. Rich. There was a feeling among some other sports that they had received poor fare in the quality of commentaries. “Would this be something better done through our delegates in Wellington?” said Mr Jameson. “Should we take this in committee?” said Mr D. H Alexander. “We may not need to write that letter,” said another ; speaker. The press had been writing hard all the time. “Should we tackle the press now?” was another comment. The meeting could criticise the press for all it was worth, but it probably would not ; get it anywhere, said Mr i Lunn. The reporter reported what he liked and any criticism of the press probably would not get in the report anyhow. The suggestion to confer with the centre’s delegates in Wellington was adopted.