Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1917. NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1693, 31 March 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1917. NATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

THE Nations) 1 Efficiency Board is afioul to take evidence in the various centres re the advisability of restricting Dicing, picture entertainments, and agricultural shows during the currency of The war. Racing men on the whole are not averse to a curtailment of Ihe “sport of kings,' 1 and it is safe to predict a substantial decrease. In discussing racing and the war, the Auckland Hera hi says “it must lie obvious Unit the claims of the turf are being greatly exaggerated if they cannot be waived when the entire social organisation is at stake. Even the complete suspension of racing until the (dose of the war could not affect the breeding of serviceable horses for immediate war use and would not seriously affect future breeding. In any case, we are confronted by the fact that the imperative demands of this terrible struggle which has been forced upon us, and in the outcome of which our national existence is involved, are gradually drawing into the army that lights for us able-bodied men of military age, and are creating a positive dearth of labour in industries which must be carried on. The Dominion surely needs its manpower for purposes far more important and essential than the un-, reduced maintenance of the Dice meetings which many who are most favourably disposed to them previously regarded its excessive in number." Our contemporary puts the case very fairly, and at the same time gives a complete answer to Sir George Clifford’s plea for the maintenanee of raeing during the war period. In respect to picture entertainments, it is difficult to see how attendance at the “movies” makes for national inefficiency as patrons generally visit such' places of amusement after the day’s toil. Besides, the Government, through the war taxation, receives its share of profits from picture shows. As to agricultural shows, it will possibly be evidenced that the loss of time in this connection is more than compensated for by the educational value of these exhibitions to the farming and producing community. But the omission of the liquor business from the scope of the inquiry is extraordinary. The Trade is directly responsible for inefficiency. Yet it is not included. A step in the right direction would be to close all public and club bars after fi p.m. The anti-shouting regulations have made little difference in the consumption of liquor. National efficiency at least demands restriction of hours for the sale and consumption of liquor.