CAPTAIN SIMSON ON RACING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 74, 26 November 1915, Page 2

CAPTAIN SIMSON ON RACING.

I'lo iae JiiUxdiM Poai., Sir,—“Patriot,” in Lis letter—teeming with sarcasm in referring to Captain Simson’s speech at Hiccarton races, dismally fails to grasp the realities ol this greatest of crisises in this planet’s history. It is as easy as falling oil a log to sling sarcasm to a man who in his fervour of true patriotism—love ot the soul of the nation—tries to show that we are up against a proposition such as the Empire has never seen, coming straight from the firing line with its vibrations pulsating through every libro of Jus being, enduring hardships compared to which death itself would be a glorious relief. Can one wonder that he bursts out with righteous indignation at the apathy of those who eater for the alluring of the youth—our young men to east the die on a chance. The Empire, these colonies particularly, has been soaked in games of chance, and racing easily leads, as witness the fact that more than £300,000 passed through the totalisator during the recent carnival week in Christchurch is of itself most impressive. Wo have been lulled into a false sense of security, playing our games of chance—’tis said Nero fiddled while Home burned, and we nave allowed ourselves to be suggested into the same apathetic condition. One of our leading men has decided that il we, as a had continued in our apathetic and luxurious state for another twenty years, it would have been impossible to rally and raise the armies we have done. To win this war means sacrifice —giving up our case, luxury, the beloved games of chance, the prospects of a good deal—everything that makes for the present success—for the sake of the self of the nation. The Kev. 11. J. Campbell, returning from a visit to the front, heard aW English officer say to a captured German officer: “You do not play the game.” | “Game, do you call it,” replied the latter, “We are not playing the game, wo are out to win, you English have been ‘playing the game’ long enough.” This show's that it is time we realised that we'’are in a life and death struggle for our very existence. It is refreshing to turn from “Patriots” elfusiou to a report of a special meeting of the Poverty Bay Trotting Club on Thursday last. The President, Dr. Charles F. Scott, suggested that they should drop fretting for the duration of the war. The country was looking for a lead from mature men, and so long as mature men and people remaining at home allowed pleasures and enjoyment to go on so long would young men be lulled into a position of false security, the country was not doing what it should do in recruiting, and he for one would not give support to racing while tinwar lasted. The meeting decided to continue racing, and the President thereupon resigned. All honor to him . and when “Patriot” becomes a mature man no doubt he will likewise resign from racing throughout the duration of the «■».— [ am, H Stratford, November 22, 1915.