Ministerial ally

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 22

Ministerial ally

PA Auckland The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet) a guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club, agreed with other speakers, including the president of the club. Dr John Sullivan, who attacked Radio New Zealand for its refusal to review its reduction of mid-week racing broadcasts. Speakers said the broadcasting authorities’ surveys on listener interest were “suspect.” “I worked hard on your behalf on this one,” said Mr Highet. “Mr lan Cross assured me he would look at it again. I agree the results produced by Radio New Zealand’s survey didn’t make sense.”

In his annual report, Dr Sullivan said: “If I am to strike a discordant note, it must be to ask that Radio New Zealand re-evaluate the information on which it has based its present policy. “h appears anomalous that with record on-and-off-course betting of the present magnitude, with attendances that establish trottin 0 as the number one night entertainment throughout New Zealand, that radio surveys indicate a low-grade interest the public is purported to show. “I would very much like to know what public support 'here was for association

football before N.Z.B.C. exploited radio and television to magnify its image.” Later, in general discussion, Dr Sullivan said: “The surveys were decidedly suspect, to say the least.” He had learned that there! were 51,000 T.A.B. telephone; betting accounts, and would! presume that at least one! quarter of these would be! jointly managed. “That would involve something like 64.000 people, and. as they contribute 15 per cent of T.A.B. betting, we are talking about some 350,000 people providing the balance of T.A.B. betting, so there are a lot of people anxious to get race results. “1 wonder how many people enjoy listening in to Chopin every afternoon.” He believed the survey figures had been distorted to show a favourable result for broadcasting. Children aged from 11 to 15 should not have been included in such a survey. “Nobody under 18 is allowed to bet, anyway.” The racing and trotting conferences should get together to furthei examine the situation, he said. The committee accepted a recommendation from one of the club’s stewards, Mr E. Hartwell, “that the club should censure the Broadcasting Authority for its action.”