HORSE RACING AND GAMBLING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3038, 22 March 1881, Page 2

HORSE RACING AND GAMBLING.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telbqbaph.] Sib,—The defence Mr J. G. Harris makes of bis calling of bookmaker is based upon the very unsound argument that two wronga make a right. He thinks that if the Church eeta into debt to build places of worship, and that the payment of the debt is problematical, therefore young men may hazard their reputation, their honor, and all that they and their friends bold dear to them by gambling on the events of a race meeting. Mr Harris, no doubt very justly, is held in high esteem by all who know him, but it cannot be denied that he looks upon betting and bookmaking from a purely bread-and-butter point of view. Do away with gambling of all descriptions, and he says we should do away with horse racing. So be it. What losi would it be that it could not be amply repaired by diverfing the capital now floating in races and racehorse breeding to more profitable channels ? Look at the amount of money now annually sobscribed to the eeveral racing clubs in the colony. Does Mr Harris mean to say that that money is spent, or rather distributed, to the best possible advantage ? I don't object to horse racing as an amusement, but if, as Mr Harris asserts, it can only be obtained by the employment of professional gamblers, then I think we pay too dearly for our enjoyment. Ido not know bow many people get their living by bookmaking, but I do think they could turn their falenta to better advantage, both to themselves and to the country. It is absurd to believe that horse racing improves the breed of horses. Tbat idea has exploded years ago. After a pretty long experience in this North Island of New Zealand I have no hesitation in saying that, with all our race meetings, and with all the encouragement given to racing, we have worse horses for ordinary riding purposes at the present time thaa we had twenty years ago, when really good hacks fetched from £50 to £70 a-piece. Now we can only get weeds at prices ranging from £12 to £25 ; a good hack is rarely seen, and is never in the market. —lam, &c,

A Chubchman. Havelock, March 22, 1881.