RACING AND WAR

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1734, 5 July 1917, Page 3

RACING AND WAR

‘ THE CASE UE HOKOWHENL'A. Al.eoling' the Hon. G. W. Hassell (.Minister of Internal Affairs) in deputation, at Wellington on Tuesday, representatives of (lie Horowhenua Having Club entered a protesl against (he proposed cutting out ot lheir one day's racing, under the curtailment scheme which lias lately been published. The deputation was introduced by Mr W, H. [•held, M.P., who saiii incidentally that the cutting out of the club’s one day’s racing was regarded as a. gross injustice, seeing that Otaki, with four days, had only been deprived of one day. Generally, the deputation contended that the race meeting was closely connected with the A. amt P. Association's show, and that its cutting out would be a great inlliction on tlie population, whh h took yearly that opportunity of meeting in friendly concourse. Also, if the meeting was cut out, the ground would have to be sold, and Levin would thereby be deprived of a recreation ground. in replying, the Minister said he was afraid he could not hold out very much hope in conned ion with the matter. There had been a very strong public feeling creak'd throughout Mew Zealand during the lasttwelve months that while this dreadful war is on it was utterly anomalous that racing should he going on as usual, and that increasing sums should he passing through the lotalisalor, as if men were not laying down their Jives for the sake of Empire, and several thousands of homes were not being desolated in consequence. The matter of reducing the licenses by one-third had been referred to the Lacing and Trotting Conferences. He was not quite satisfied with the recommendations, hut it was for Cabinet to say whether the adjustment proposed should be carried out. He was wailing now for replies to certain (pies!ions which hud been put to Sir George Clifford a week ago, and what had not yet reached him. The number of racing days in this district had been cut down by eight, leaving sixteen. Personally, he sympathised with the country clubs. Some of the bigger clubs had only eat down their racing days by uneliflh, aLthe expense of the country clubs and hunt clubs. He was not salisliod that that was the real principle on which it was agreed the one-lhird reduction should be carried oul. He thought it was quite reasonable to suppose that the Government would Jiol allow Levin to he deprived of ils show ground if a way could be found out of the dil'lieultv.