THE THRILL OF THE HUNT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 96, 8 July 1946, Page 4

THE THRILL OF THE HUNT

Sir, —I would like to take the opportunity of expressing through your columns, my regret that horsemen and women in the Whakatane district have seen fit to align themselves with those in the districts on either side in the formation of a Hunt Club. Hunting in its true form is nothing more nor less than a hangover from some of the less enlightened days of the Mother country when it was the national sport of the rich, and the national curse of the poor. I am not a horseman myself, so perhaps I missed the point when a member of the club, who took part in the recent opening Hunt, described with obvious sadistic delight, the movements of the hare and its frantic evdeavours to escape the slavouring jaws of the hounds. The argument that Hunting serves a useful purpose in destroying unwanted hares is merely a sop to the conscience of those who experience some feeling of guilt at taking part in the chase. If the hares are to be exterminated, there are other surer, quicker and kindlier methods, than hounding them down one by one. Apparently, however, the sportsmen (alleged) who take part in the chase place the satisfaction of their own inner sadistic desires before the life or feelings of another of God’s creatures, which, after all, has just as much right to inhabit the earth as man himself. How many Huntsmen would experience the same thrill if they on foot, were to change places with the hare? I noticed also, that before the commencement of the opening Hunt, all assembled in the Taneatua Hall, for -

the breakfast which, from all accounts, was a sumptuous repast consisting of delicacies innumerable. How magnificent! I sincerely trust that no appetites were checked by a passing thought for hundreds of thou sands of people in other countries facing death by starvation; or that no member stayed his hand at the thought of a small band of C.0.R.5.0. workers appealing ,for funds and food in order to help their fellow men. No, I sincerely trust that the banqueters managed to keep these aspects well in the background. The members doubtless experienced a warmth of anticipation at the sight of the tables laden with good things; it would probably comfort them if they stopped to think that even the children of Europe are not' deprived ‘•of this same feeling—they still experience it if at any time they happen to be lucky enough to fish an old crust of bread out of a rubbish tin. Yes, we must indeed'be thank- f ful that War’s terrors have not dimmed the light of sportsmanship in our midst: -■ .'■' -' ■ ■ . . ' \ >-v ■. ■ . »• Yours etc., % T \ ; . “ANTI-PEEL.” '