Canterbury clubs oppose broadcast cuts

Press, 1 September 1977, Page 19

Canterbury clubs oppose broadcast cuts

The strongest possible opposition to cuts made in racing and trotting broadcasts by Radio New Zealand was expressed unanimously at a meeting Of representatives of 13 racing and trotting clubs held at Addington Raceway last evening. The clubs all race in or near Christchurch. The concern of the clubs is to be expressed in telegrams to politicians and to the braodcasting authorities before a meeting of the Broadcasting Council in Wellington on September 6. The question of broadcasts of racing and trotting meetings will be considered at that meeting. The chairman of the meeting, Mr W. G. P. Cuningham, the president of the

Canterbury Park Trotting i! ■ Club, reviewed a recent : I special meeting of the Trott-/ ling Conference called tcfii consider the cuts in broad- [ casting. Representatives were highly critical of the survey carried out on behalf of Radio New f Zealand. Many of the small number covered by the survey were aged i from 10 to 14, said Mr Cuningham. South Island racing clubs . were greatly concerned i about the cuts, said Mr W. R. Barbarel, secretary Of the Canterbury Jockey Club. The new system had just been started when Radio New Zealand broadcast the | legs of the double from i meetings at Matamata and I Auckland even though they I did not meet the require-; ments of stakes for midweek broadcasts, be said. “If I it is good enough for it to be done in the North Island,! why shouldn’t it be done in ■ ithe South Island?” he asked. ■ ■ “Only one person in the I sports department of Radio I New Zealand makes the, decision regarding the races] ltd be broadcast and that I ! leaves much to he desired.” |he added. A suggestion that racing and trotting clubs should! ; threaten to withdraw all advertising from Radio New ■

was mad* by Mr G L Bradbury, the secretary of numerous racing and trotting clubs in Canterbury. It was just a question of economies, according to .Mr D. C. Parker, secretary of the three Christchurch trotting clubs. "Radio New Zea land has been told to work within its budget It cost them about 5167.000 a year in telephone charges to cover the various trotting and racing meetings." he said.