GREYHOUND RACING

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1928, Page 4

GREYHOUND RACING

RILL TO ALLOW LOCAL VETO. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, May 11. In tlio House of Commons, Mr John Buchan (Conservative member for Scottish Universities) moved the second reading of the Dog Racing Rill, requiring all tracks to be licensed thy the local authorities. He said that a strong case should be made out for dog racing, as it was an interesting sport. No case he made out against local control. Tlie municipalities were the Ticst judges of the well-being of their own areas. A cardinal point was that greyhound racing had increased betting. It had become an enormous financial interest. with over 150 registered companies. There were several millions ol capital invested ill it. One of the guarantees that profits would be earned was the facilities given for mass betting. Though betting was an ancient and an ineradicable human instinct, this had not removed the objections to the- artificial provision of large-scale betting opportunities. Therefore it was-thrusting a temptation before the classes that were least able to sustain losses. Mr Buchan said that unless the sport were regulated, it would drilt into a chain of casinos. The eoiin-try-widc adoption of this sport was just beginning, and its ultimate development could not be foreseen. I bey must harmonise it with the public interest while there was yet time. Sir Frank Meyer, Bart (Conservative member for Great 5 arniouth) moved the rejection of the lull. He objected to it as being an attempt to raise the moral tone by repressive legislation. \\ by, be asked, should greyhound racing be singled out I rum other sports? The local authorities had not controlled horse racing, oi pony racing, or coursing, or whippet racing, or football, or cricket, oi boxing. Ho was not pretending that greyhound racing was possible without betting, but be declared that there was enormous betting on Association fooljhall.

Mr J. H. Thomas (Labour) said that nobody enjoyed horse racing more than himself, but since greyhound racing had started lie- bad not attended a horse race. Mr Thomas said lie associated in. and approved of all kinds of sport and healthy recreation. but he was opposed to greyhound racing, which, lie considered, was bad for the working class. He strongly favoured allowing a- veto bv the local authorities. Sir L. Hamilton (member for Orkney and Shetland) said flint, a local press plebiscite in his constituency bad resulted in fourteen thousand postcards in tavour of the Bill and only one against the Bill.

Sir Win. Joyiixon lucks (Home Minister) said that (lie only question was whether this sport ought to Vie controlled. He laid been inundated with correspondence on the subject, and ho had received no fewer than sixteen hundred resolutions against greyhound racing. Very lew resolutions were in favour of it. lie had also seen many deputations. So long as the sport was properly conducted, for sport’s sake, he saw no reason against il. Columnwise, if it were a mere cloak for gambling, then it was a matter for I’arliameiit'.s consideration as to whether it should not be stopped. He was not prepared to go ilint length. The Government decided to leave the matter to a free vole of the House. IVrsonally. lie mi pdo i ted ibis Bill. The Bill was read a second time by 222 votes to 18.

An attempt to refer the Bill to a Select Committee was defeated by ISo to 30.