GRAFT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 933, 20 December 1910, Page 4

GRAFT.

AND ITS HOED ON OUR YOUTH. We clip the following from “Sport,” an Auckland publication : “There would appear to be some truth in the assertion that everyone connected with the racinggame is more or less a “ take,” if we are to lend an car to the rumours which fly about from time to time. And we are forced to admit that at least a per ceutage of New Zealanders are becoming Americanised in their gieed of the “Almighty Dollar” and their “ grafting" methods of obtaining the filthy lucre. Latest is to the effect that a mere baby apprentice at the riding profession down the southern part 01 this Island recently had his license to ride refused by his Metropolitan body because he allowed his name to be come entangled in some “ grading ” episode against a bookmaker. ’Tis said that the youth in question, who was away from home at a race meeting, flashed a winner by wire to his fellowgrafters after the winner had really won, and that the kid’s satellites “grafted ” a few pounds on the “ceit.” with the unsuspecting bookmaker. So far so good, but Tommy tumbled to “graft,” and refused to pay the “grafters.” Then the longues commenced to wag about the affair, and the upshot was that the police were actually compelled to bring an action against the bookmaker, who was fined for some illegality, while the apprenticed horseman was politely refused his application for a jockey’s license when he found it necessary to apply to his Metropolitan guardians. “ The youngster in question is rather a clever and promising horseman, has a good pair of bauds and knows how to use them, but his lapse into “grafting” methods, his apparent greed of gold, his tendency to inculcate a swollen head, and his desire to wilfully rook, calls forth maiked condemnation, and the sooner he realises that if be were to go straight in his profession, so much sooner will his career in the saddle claim the admiration of racing enthusiasts, and so much sooner wiil his own nest be feathered sufficiently to protect himself from the blatant and furious storms of life. There are few at his profession who adopt “grafting ’’ tactics that end up life by doing any goed for themselves, and a glance at heroic horsemen of the past and present will surely reveal the truth that those who have earned both fame and real estate were and are recognised straight goers. “The racing authorities of today desire to keep the game clean, and those who intend following the business as a livelihood had better be prepared to be dealt with as their actions command, otherwise it may be just as well to take to the bush.

“ The point that strikes us most forcibly about the case quoted is the growing greed and “ grafting” mania developing in oar youth.”