RUGBY AND RADIO.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18541, 11 April 1930, Page 8

RUGBY AND RADIO.

BRITISH GAMES TO BE BROADCAST. NEW ZEALAND UNION’S DECISION. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 10. The delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union, at the annual meeting to-night, decided that all matches played by the British team in New Zealand should be broadcast. Mr S. S. Dean said the New Zealand Union would not lose a penny if the matches were broadcast, but it would be a serious matter for affiliated Unions. Personally he liked listening in, but the Radio Broadcasting Company was a commercial institution. The Union did not see why the Radio Company should not pay for the privilege of broadcasting Rugby matches as they charged listeners-in a license fee of 30/-. Everybody had sympathy with patients in hospitals and charitable institutions, and if the Radio Company were sincere in their concern for these people, why should they not make a donation for the privilege of broadcasting the matches? The expressions which had fallen from the Radio Company were mere camouflage. The secretary read a reply from the Radio Broadcasting Company, in which they stated that they were not prepared to pay for the privilege of broadcasting the matches.

Mr H. H. Sterling considered that if the' reports of the British games were not broadcast, it would affect the game adversely. The New Zealand Rugby Union had a service to give to the public as well as the radio. He moved that all matches played by the British team in the Dominion be broadcast. The motion was seconded by Mr McDevitt (Waikato).

Mr S. Wilson (Canterbury), moved as an amendment:—“That this meeting approve of the action of the Management Committee in asking the Radio Company for some fee for the privilege of broadcasting the matches.” He said the New Zealand Union had not brought out the British team for the benefit of listeners-in. Mr J. Prendeville (Wellington), seconded the amendment. He suggested that the Radio Company might be allowed to send a reporter to the matches, and send out a report over the air in the evenings. The Broadcasting Company could well afford to pay a fee, and each listener-in might pay a shilling for the privilege of receiving the reports over the air. The money received in this way could go to a Rugby insurance fund. Mr J. McLeod (Taranaki), said the Union was not concerned with the Broadcasting Company, but they were vitally concerned with the public of New Zealand, and the game might get a bad set-back if they refused reports to be sent over the air. Taranaki had been broadcasting Rugby and boxing events for the past few years, and found that instead of reducing gates tile added publicity had brought more revenue.

Rev. P. Tamahori (East Coast), made a strong plea that at least the test matches might be broadcast. Mr Belcher (Auckland), said that his Union was strongly in favour of broadcasting, but he had been influenced by what he had heard during the discussion. There was something to be said for allowing the Radio Company to send reports out in the evening. Mr A. Murdoch (Auckland), said it could not be expected that a report sent out some hours after the match would be anything like as vivid as one broadcast while the game was in progress. Mr A. A. Adams (West Coast), said that after hearing the discussion his Union would be prepared to lose a few pounds in order that the greater good of the game might be served by broadcasting the matches. Mr MacFarlane pleaded that they should do the greatest good for the greatest number, and allow the matches to be broadcast.

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

Mr J. T. King (Wellington), then moved, as a further amendment:— “That reports of test matches only be allowed to be broadcast. This also was lost.

Mr Sterling’s motion was then put and carried.