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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 10

The agitation for the restriction of racing was tho suliject of comment by Mr. J. Rowc, president of the Auckland Trotting Club, at the annual meeting of members. Mr. Rowc stated that last year tho chili had lost two of its days of racing. The members were all of opinion that the reduction was unnecessary, and was engineered by the opponents of sport for their own ends He bt£k.'vr,l the same opponents were still working to crush all forms of amusement but- their own particular hobby. He had souniVed a warning year after year sjnoe lie had occupied the position of president, and ho reiterated that if the sport lovers did not combino to protect their legitimate sports, liberties and amusements, they would have no choice in flic selection left to them. Racking and sports wore hurting no one. They were encouraging a great national industry, which was an enormous factor in the Allies' successful prosecution of the war. Moreover, a large proportion of the community took its greatest pleasure in Bports, and was keenly interested in them. A large majority of the men at the front looked to our newspapers for the accounts of our sports, and had their own sports and races within sound of the inns. Every civilised nation outside the actual fighting area was carrying on its racing industry. These facts should bo sufficient to inspire all open-minded people in Ihe community to fight tooth and nail lo protect this recognised industry and amusement, and all such right? against fanatical attacks. Our Thorpe was to have attacked the mile trotting record at Addington yesterday.