Broadcast for League?

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 492, 29 June 1932, Page 6

Broadcast for League?

To the Editor. Dear Sir, —As a regular reader of your valuable paper, which, by the way, I say is certainly open-minded and at least willing to be shown the other fellow’s point of view, I am trying to assist the correspondent in your issue of Wednesday, who wrote asking for the Rugby League team from England to be given fair play by the powers that be. I don’t think I can be accused of being biased when I say that the Press in New Zealand, and even the broadcasting stations, give more advertising to Rugby than to any other game, and in some cases to the exclusion of others. A short time ago a discussion arose as to whether Rugby League would be broadcast, as the Rugby Union, at the initial meeting, said Rugby would not be broadcast. Apparently they studied the matter, and after permission had been granted by the Rugby League in Auckland to put their game on the air, the Rugby Union altered its decision, and now we get Rugby every Saturday from the four A stations. What a difference to last year, when Soccer, or any other game, could get a turn. The Rugby Union had in mind this visiting English team, and, to my mind, intends to put as many difficulties in the way as possible; why I don’t know, as Rugby is New Zealand’s national game, but if they were sports they would, at least, extend the same courtesy to the English Rugby League as they did to the Canadian Soccer team, and, if I think correctly, the Chinese. Now, on the West Coast here we like the League code, but if a touring team of any code comes here it gets the same support and the same ground if it wishes as any other. The Broadcasting Board, to my mind, has allow’ed the Rugby Union to bluff them, and we will get no League broadcast in New Zealand. What a difference to Australia, where evervone gets the same chance. In passing I might say that I wrote to the Broadcasting Board in this strain, but no notice was taken. I hope this won’t be treated the same. Coming to a close, I would like to ask why the Rugby Union is putting on a game the same day as the Rugby League play a test in Christchurch, if it isn’t to prevent the League using Lancaster Park, and also to keep support away. Apparently thev are willing to lose monev. and be satisfied, if they think it will do harm to the other code. —I am, etc., COASTER.