A TIMID GOVERNMENT.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2798, 16 June 1916, Page 6

A TIMID GOVERNMENT.

Sir, Has uot the time arrived wh®n Government should seriously consider ita ways in regard to racing etc? There ia a feeling abroad that tiie Government—■ as at present constituted—dare not touch' the urink question, racing, nor picture shows. It is a gross scandal tjiat just now, when our casualty lists are again appealing in the papers, and we are mourning the loss of our greatest soldier, and hundreds of sailors in the North Sea, that our people should be so utterly frivolous and scltish. We know the weak arguments of the racing people, that if racing be stopped, so many men would ° be thrown out of employment. Surely, sir, 'that is tlie strongest argument in favour of stopping it. The country ia crying out for labour, and onr men are calling out for others to fill their places at tho front. Does the Minister of Dofence intend giving the soldiers leave during the Wellington races? We send our lads to Trentham to be trained to fight for their country, not to be encouraged to gamble and swell the totalisator reoeipts of the W.K.C. As to drinking, ilr. Jlassey is reported to have said: "After the last election hot one hotel was closed." At the last electioni no one thought of compulsion, but it had "to . come. Let the Government stop all. "shouting," in club 3 as well as in hotels,' aud close the latter at l six o'clock, stop racing until after the war, and put a . heavy tax on picture shows and theatres —there would then be a little more "equality of sacrifice." Why should we mothers give up our loved sons so' that these wasters—both men and women— should stay at home, drinking, gambling, and crowding the picture shows?—l am, etc., . < A MOTHER, Ohau,. June 9.