RACING IN WAR TIME
(To tho Editor.)
Sir,—lf it were not such a serious matter it would be almOßt laughable to hear the weak arguments brought forward by many of the racing clubs, or those connected with racing, in their endeavour to bolster up a weak cause. In listening Id their arguments a person would 06 almost giyen to understand that the war was subservient to hors'e racing. Being thousands of miles away, it possibly does not appeal to those who bring forth such arguments.
I understand the Government requires all the' man power available, not only for military purposes, but also for the utilisation of lanour; but, setting on one side the Government altogether, this country requires all the man power available. Men for every employment are scarce —drovers 255. a day, a uvusterer advertising his services iu the paper for 20s. a day, web or fine, and demands for other country work being in a like proportion. Yet, in spite of all this, the Hacing COmmitteo -argue that racing does not affect Matters.
■'■ I should like to point out that on race days men will leavo freezing works, or any other works, for the races. Country JaOOur—ploughing, • shearing, stacking, etc.—the same;-it does not matter how important it may be. Not only that, but in many cases it takes these men a day or two to recover from the effects of their holiday. An advocated racing argues in this way: "Our races (the majority) are held on half-holidays." In answer to this: Races start at 12 o'clock, so you do not get much work, if any, during that day; if it had not been for the races the men invariably wsrk on at their employment, of course earning double time; but on a race day, although they may have promised to stick to their work, they cannot resist the temptation of the Opportunity to have a gamble. This- applies also to firm work. .
Owners of stables and big racing men will show you returns of each individual in their employ showing that they are not eligible for. military service, and these employees have dependants. In answer to this: Employers will Hot iaco the fact that these men and boys can be used for other purposes than working in a -stable; and, as far as their dependants are concerned, far" better wages can be earned at tho present, time in outside worts.
Then another advocate of races, argues: "We must have the thoroughbred" (war does not come into his consideration). "What about our hunters, our hacks ? We must have v cavalry horses. If we stop racing .all our horses will go to Australia, and the immense amount of money invested in studs will be lost to this Dominion." The speaker goes on-with a lot of argument (if you can call it such) as the above, the war —as you will no doubt have noticed—being of quite a secondary consideration In the horse argument I-will only touch on one of the subjects—the others are of so little importance as not being worthy of notice —cavalry horses. The war is going on this very minute; it would be from fivo to six years before we could use the cavalry horse now being bred.
Another advocate of .racing states: "liorlin is racing." I cannot sco what this has to do with lis; wo do not wish to copy Germany iu any of her procedures. If sho wishes to blu!f }er populaeo into believing that things aro going well with her when they aro not that is her business, not ours. Anyway, two wrongs do not malco a rij-ht. Another able man conies alone with the argument: "If wo turn the horses out it does uot help production, as they Would simply tako tho placo of other animals."' My answer to this is that a racehorse in the stablo takes a great deal moro to koefi than it does in the paddock. Although in the- stable, so much land has to bo utilised for growing oats, hay, and other feed for it, whereas if grazed in tho paddock a lesser area of laud would ho taken up in feeding it. Racecourses tako a number of c en for upkeep possibly not eligible for military purposes, but at present wasted in the cuparity an regards' helping producers. ■ iMiiny members of clubs am] ov-'icrs recommend Urn curlailing of i:\ring, and will not boar of dosing down for th 6' period of tho war. Asked their reasons for this, they readily answer y.ou bx sasingj -".Wa lauajj dev sssasr
thing iu tin's direction; the public are clamouring.*' You notico lioro again it is not from any thought of benefit to tho war, but "the public are clamouring." "The public" arc clamouring! What does it matter what the public think and say if your causo is right? Iu answer to these strong advocates of curtailing races, I shall point out that their suggestion would bo of no benefit in our present needs. In tho first place, if a certain number of race days are stopped, tho stables, trainers, men, and horses will be still kept going, so under the circumstances tho only benefit derived would be the fow days gained from wasting tlio tinic of the general public A suggestion by some is that if racing were curtailed tho smaller clubs are to be the principal sufferers. As the big owners only race at tho large meetings where the stakes are worth racing for, consequently tho- smaller fry, according to some of those in favour of curtailing, are to go out. This, surely, is ft v£ry eolfish way of looking at tilings. In my opinion, racing should bo discontinued during the war.—l am, etc., E. E. FLETCHER. Wangaehu. COAL IS SCARCE-USE SAVED. ' Waste of coal must bo stopped, therefore "Savco" should ha U6ed to make coal jo farther. Every housewife can get brighter, olennor fires with only half the fuel usually required, simply by adding "Savco" to coal, coke, or slack. "Saveo" oosts sixpence at grocers and ironmongers. If unable to procure, write Box 655, Wollinglon.-Advt.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 9
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1,018RACING IN WAR TIME Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 9
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