BROADCASTING OF RACES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 60

BROADCASTING OF RACES.

REASON FOR IMPOSING BAN. WELLINGTON, September 17. The decision of the New Zealand racin', authorities to prohibit the broadcast’ .g of races from the courses was touched upon by Mr I. G. Duncan, vice-president, in his report to the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club to-day. “As you are probably aware,” said Mr Duncan, “ the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences have resolved that the radio broadcasting of race meetings during the progress of racing shall be prohibited by all clubs. I feel that it may be of interest to meihbers to know the main reasons which weighed with the club’s delegates in supporting this resolution. Eliminating altogether the question of any payment for the privilege of broadcasting, it was felt that owing to the almost complete absence of a leisured class in New Zealand, only a small percentage of listeners-in are in a position to spend the day enjoying the broadcasting of the races from the course. Of this section the vast majority could only listen in at the expense of their duties and callings, thus reducing their productive capacity, causing friction with their employers, and economic loss to the country. • In fact. I venture to predict that if the broadcasting of races during the progress of the racing becomes a general practice it will not be long before Parliament, in the interests of the community, will step in and put a stop to the broadcasting of all sporting events until after working hours. But apart from these Results, any or alt of whi'di would bo very damaging to racing, the

great bulk of listeners-in would be denied the opportunity of hearing the races broadcasted. In the interests of the subscribers to the Broadcasting Company themselves, therefore, it will be seen that the decision of the racing Conferences is a wise one.”