BROADCASTING OF MUNICIPAL CONCERTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 91, 8 July 1927, Page 16

BROADCASTING OF MUNICIPAL CONCERTS

APPLICATION REFUSED An application by the Broadcasting Company to be allowed to broadcast the Sunday afternoon band concerts in the Zoological Gardens was turned doAvn by the City Council last evening. The bandmaster, AA r ho reported against the application, had some cryptic" remarks to make on the subject. He said the performances v.'ere part of the attraction to the park, and to broadcast them could only be detrimental to the gate receipts, and to the public patronage of the Town Hall concerts, to which admission was charged. He admitted, however, that since the free recitals in the Town Hall had been broadcast the public attendance, had been considerably higher, almost double in fact. Whether this result Avas related to the broadcasting he could not venture an opinion. He Avas inclined to think that the "inherent merit of the performers was meeting Avith its due reward.” Though there Avas much to be said in faA*our of taking good music to the homes of the people, much more could be said in favour of inducing the community into the open air to hear it on Sunday afternoons. The application was declined.