RACES AND THE WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 32, 6 October 1915, Page 7

RACES AND THE WAR.

THE GAMING AMENDMENT ACT. (From the Mew Zealand Times.) [n the House on Monday, the Gam- • lug Aft Amendment liil! w;i . r, po.'ie.i Imm the Legislative Council witii I amendments. The Alinister lor Internal Allan's (lion, LI. \\ . Ilus-vell) explained the clause added hy the Council pmvidnig that a. racing clnh . u hieli had lost racing days owing to its buildings being used hy I lie militan authorities should have a correspondiii • nuniher ot davs added in .subsequent years. 11 - - said that the clause should hare hoea added helore (he hill h'lt the House, and he took the hhnne lor the onimission. The clause woidd not increase the nuniher ol racing days in the aggregate, hut simply provided a right ol transfer from one year to another year in cases where military exigencies had inlcrfercd with a cluhks programme. The Wellington Racing Clnh had had its business greatly inter I e red with owing to its grounds and buildings being required for military purposes, and the restoration to the club of racing days which had been lost was an act of simple justice. Mr Hornsby ( Wairarap i): “A l at-

riotie quid pro quo.” Mr Russell : “The club came to tli' assistance of the Government in a time ot dilhenlty, and did not ash loi any recompense. Ihe sugg -stion made by the honourable member is not deserved.’’ The Minister added that the Act would operate only until the close of tiio war. Mr L. M. 1 silt (Christchurch North) said lie hoped the House would have sufficient moral sense to reject the amendments made in the hill. Ihe tendency in various parts of the Empire at the present juncture was to diminish, and not to increase, the amount of racing and gambling in the larger interests of the nation. He regarded it as most regrettable that the House should he asked to extend the number of racing days in future years as a reward lo a racing club which had done a patriotic thing hy handing over its buildings to the military authorities. The nuniher of racing days was too large already. Ihe racing men themselves admitted it. Mr Isitt added that lie was heart and son! against giving any additional facilities of racing clubs at the present juncture. Mr G. Witty (Riccartou) expressed regret that the amendments had not been moved in the House so that there could have been full discussion of them. He contended that the racing chibs were entitled in compensation for the days they had lost through handing over their courses. Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa): “They wore commandeered.” Mr IX Buick (Palmerston North): “They were not.” Mr Witty: “Well, even if they did* the racing clubs arc entitled to justice.” He emphasised the fact that the clubs had made large contributions to the patriotic funds. When a call was made sportsmen were the first to put their hands in their pockets. An lion, member: “And keep them there.” fLanghter.)

Mr Witty hoped that the House would not allow sportsmen to he robbed of their sport because they had come to the assistance of the Government and the sick soldiers. Mr Buick said that he could only expect the speech of the hori. member for Christchurch North. The hon. gentleman was one who had what they called a rat. (Laughter.)