THE RACING MENACE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 257, 18 July 1918, Page 6

THE RACING MENACE

(To tho Editor.)

Sir,—Now the great "Racing Conference" is a thing of the past, it is just as well that a counter-blast should be made. Glancing over several papers we find that about six columns of your valuable paper have bem devoted to detailed reports of the conference. But we must let that pass. "Sporting men" have plenty of money to pay for advertisement's, etc. Now, it is a conspiracy ot silence to fail to notico that from a public standpoint our Dominion is in a 6wift decline, and it would be cowardly to ftvil to call attention to this menace to society. When Sir George Clifford tries to bracket "racing organisations" with tho splendid work being done by our 'men at the front it is time to tear off the mask. Enemies of genuine patriotism are trying to force the continuance of racing during war time. Tho matter needs attention. Those against racing and its associations are undoubtedly the true patriots. When we find gambling so closely associated with Tacing there is ample justification' for exposing, tho 6ham. It is the "bounden duty" of every lover of his country to help to deliver the people from this octopus that is spreading its tentacles and threatening to strangle some of our highest ideals. Were racing quite free from the gambling element it would be merely a matter of liking or disjiking it. but when the "stipendiary stewards" report that "despite the war and the curtailment of racing tho volume of totalisator investments will apparently show, an increase as compared with the 1!)lfi-l7 season," it is time to be doing something. What is really wanted in New Zealand during the war is an anti-racing society, which would aim at creating public sentiment against the present menace. It i* scandalous to find that while the flower of New Zealand's sons are away fighting for our safety many are encouraging in ouv midst a kind of sport whose chief attraction is the "tote;" It is not a matter of our rights, it is a question of reason. We submit that racing is quite non-es-sential to a country at any time, and that it is absolutely so "at such a time as this." Of all the piffle we have ever read that given expression to during the past few weeks, that of the "conference" just closed, forms a record. If the people who show such "keenness for tho turf" would show a little more in uplifting movements, we should bo satisfied, that is, with the exclusion of racing during war time. We need to cultivate that righteousness which exalts a nation, not the spirit that degrades it. For tho purpose of hoodwinking the public, statements are made respecting "the supply of chargers" for cavalry. Have wo not the foresight to see that what is wanted is men women of more moral stamina. This counts wonderfully in war time. Apart from this, however, we need never fear that supply and demand will always right themselces. Kacing to encourage a better breed of horfes is quite a fallacy. In a pamphlet, "The Sport of Kings," the writer says he has by no means lost interest' in racing, "but when you tell me that the object of racing, is to improve the quality of our horses, I can only reply that of all the insolent misstatements in the annals of misrepresentation I know of nothing to excel this one."

Again, the "conference" is so anxious to glut itself wilh racing plus totalisator that it is "issuing an appeal to racing clubs asking them to assent to the use of surplus funds for war loans and patriotic funds." The only genuine patriotism is the kind that zealously guards moral fibre of the community, for nations have more to fear from inward corruption than from outward invasion. We want money for our wounded, but should we'not encourage tlio people to deny themselves the turf and the "tote,'' and give the money straight out. As for the taxes derived from the "tote" they are merely a sickening commentary on the degraded ideals of a large section of our countrymen. This matter should be carefully attended to when a chango in the "powers that be" takes place. I, with many others, am desirous that the eyes of the people may be sufficiently opened to throw off the menace of racing with all its attendant'evils— I. am, etc.

It. E. UOWLE, Presbyterian Church. Eketahuna.