A NATIONAL DISGRACE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 184, 24 April 1918, Page 6

A NATIONAL DISGRACE

Sir, —I thank you for your insertion of my letter re above, which, judging from the comments I have heard upon it, is a true echo of public sentiment and indignation, r cannot, however, agree with your editorial comment and criticism. To characterise that letter as "extravagant, inaccurate, and a violent effusion" is, in effect, to accuse me of. falsity and misrepresentation. You hnvo thrown down the gauntlet, and I gladly take it up. I challenge you or any journalist, editor, and pressman to disprove one word of my denunciation of this national and disgraceful vice. Nothing has been witnessed to equal it in any other part of the British Empire since the war. New Zealand has been racing, betting, nntl gambling upon the occasion of every battle fought since this terrible conflict began; and racing with increased enthusiasm, increased immorality and indifference at every succeeding race meeting; and, what is infinitely worse, with an increased attendance of so-called "men," whose proper place is in the fir-ing-line; "men" who are the very worst epecies of "shirkers," hiding behind undeveloped boys of eighteen and twenty, and, to their lasting shame, the petticoats of the women. This has been witnessed during the last terrible phase of this titanic struggle to an extent hitherto unknown; conducted with unblushing effrontery nnd without shame. To attempt a palliation of this by stating tho amount of racing has been cut down is about tho flimsiest argument ever emanating from an editorial chair.) \cs, it has been "cut down" one race-the Wellington autumn meeting has been prohibited. What a sacrifice! Enough to provoke the gods or make the angels weep. 'And "the Manawatu increased totnlisator turnover meant a handsome addition to patriotic funds, for this club for some time past pave all its uronts to patriotic purposes." "Patriotic purnoses!" What an insult to patriotism. If you had said fools' money and plunder instead of profits, you'd have given a correct definition of the truth. There is not one ounce of patriotism in gambling or racing. The whole miserable business of devoting a ntne of this plunder to war purposes is the most contemptible bribe ever accepted by a Government or people or "justified" by the Press for permission to continue during the war the greatest abomination under heaven. It is on a par with the other wretched plea-dropped out of the running now—of "keeping- up racing to improve the breed of horses for cavalry purposes in war." No, Sir, there is no justification or plea possible for a continuance of tlipso evils in war time. They should be swept away, and the wasters who support them sent to the front, for if ever "non-essentials" existed it is these, lliere is no goodi of any sort to be got out of them at. any time. A study of the physiognomy of their devotees, male and female, carries its own condemnation. In conclusion, I deny absolutely your statement that my accusation of the Press "giving more prominence to racing than- the war is unndultered nonsense. It is true. Every newspaper .devotes column after column to the sickening defails of racing pedisrrees, filly, sires, dams, and all the trickery, devices and frauds which go to make up sport. Only a Sunday or two ago I saw crowds outside a paper office, halfway across the street. Thinking an important war bnlletiivhad come in I went ovor. only lo find the window devoted to "the latest racing news," and no war telegrams at Where will you find anv profession or industry gratuitously exhibited or advertised in this way bv the newspapers? Whore will you find any of the arts, sciences, industries, or professions monopolising whole columns of reading matter, and having extra special "sports editions devoted to them as this vicious abomination has? .Technically, 'perhaps, there is not, at tlie moment, so much prominence given to it as to tho wnr, but it is a close second, and, when peace once more prevails, it will again, come out on top, taking "pride of place upon "contents boards," running "special" train? and trams, so that the tricksters and the sharks can fatten upon the fools, and shirk honest industry and toil in a more flagrant manner than they are shirking their duty to the Empire in the throes of its death agony, receiving then, as thov do now, every encouragement from the Press, so long as I lie bribery nays for the flattery.—l am, etc., - *A. GIENWOWEE. fAmongst the statements in our correspondent's previous letter lo which wo took exception were his assertion tbot the daily Press of the Dominion gives greater proniinonco to sporting than to war news, and that Cabinet Ministers and M.P.'s have an interest in sportsstronger than their win-the-war policy or their patriotism. It is putting the matter mildly to describo tho first of these allegations as an "inaccuracy" and the second as an "exaggeration."!