INTERESTING BROADCAST

Evening Star, Issue 20506, 10 June 1930, Page 3

INTERESTING BROADCAST

UNIVERSITY DEBATES NORTH AND SOUTH ISLAND [SnciAt, to the ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, June 9. A ufiiquo and interesting radio broadcast will take place next month, when an interuniversity debate will be put on tho air. Auckland and Wellington will very likely debate on'July 14, and Christchurch and Dunedin a fortnight later. Both of these , will he broadcast, and then, if a land line between the North and South Island is available, the two winners Will argue through the ether on August 16.

This is the first time that anything of this kind has been attempted in New Zealand There seems little doubt that the lines will be available for the debates between Auckland and Wellington and between Dunedin and Christchurch, but it is not yet known whether it will be possible to arrange for the debate between the winning college in each island. However, an official of the Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand pointed out to. a ‘ Sun ' reporter to-day that tho Post and Telegraph Department invariably did its utmost to arrange broadcast features like this, and if it . could possibly bo done a land line would be available for the final debate.

It would be a unique feature, he said. At each centre the ■ debaters would talk to their supporters in the room, and also to tho microphone, and then the reply _ would come over the air. Listeners-in would hear everything, together with the applause, interjections, and criticisms of the supporters at each end. The debates would each last an hour and a-quar-ter. Usually the debates ai;e decided by appointed judges, or by .the audience, but a suggestion was made that the listeners-in might bo given a vote. They could post their decisions to the broadcasting stations, and though the result might possibly be contrary to that of the judge, it would heighten tho interest in the contest considerably. :