SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81832, 27 August 1906, Page 4

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. September 5 and t>—Marton Jockev Club September Kj ami 20 —Rangitikei Racing Club September 22. 20 and 20,—Avondale Jockey Club September 27 and 2,S—Wanganui Jockey Club October 3 and 4 —Hawkc's Bay Jockey Club October 10 and 11—Napier Park Racing Club

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. September 22—Avondale Cup September 22— Avondale Stakes September 26—Avondale Guineas September ncr-A.J.C. Derby September 29 —Epsom Handicap CAMBLINC. (By "Moturoa.") There lias been for some time past a general agitation against what is termed the gambling mania, not only in New Zealand but also in .Australia, and there is not the Slightest doubt that every true and sensible citizen will agree that gambling is a cur-e to a community, but the question lias often been asked, ''What is gambling?'' I'p to the present lime those who are waging war against this evil have confined their attention to gambling in connection with herseracing, but every right minded person is fully aware that this is not the only system of gambling; neither is it the worst. Take, for instance, the Stock Exchange. A recent cable from New York announced that, "thefe was wild excitement in Wall street owing to unexpected dividends on certain railways. Operators with inside knowledge netted three million sterling and some London operators have al-o made large fortunes.'' And again in New Plymouth a little while ago there was tremendous speculation in land and property. Some may have been successful, but others lost, not only a pound, but a number of pounds. Then at the present time we have the oil mania, and I venture to state that many soured shares in the first instance "on the chance" of a good dividend. It is a well-known fact that some prople will no' inve-t a pound on the racecourse hut arc perfectly willing to chance ten or a hundred pounds on gold .oil, or property shares. A little while ago, in the Hawke's Bay district, a man was reported to have ' been the lucky drawer of the winning number in a land ballot, and afterwards sold his interest a very considerable sum. If all this is not gambling, then 1 wouid like to ask what is r A man or a woman may invest a pound or five pounds on a horse or oil or land with the ex pectation of drawing a god divi-' dend, but, as a rule, gambling or speculating 1 which appear, to be a nicer word) in land or property requires a bigger investment, and consequently a bigger ios.-> if it does nor prove successful. Surely aii Ih s constitutes gambling, but all that ha; been said and written so far has been ag linst gambling 1 n horse ra< - ing. i'raoically everything haabuse, and it is the abuse which causes the evil. To attempt to stop horse racing is to attempt the iin - poj-iblc. l.ut so f ar - 1S t|. o And Gambling League confines its atten- ' tion to annihilating the abuse and purifying the turf, it will probably succeed. As the "Australasian" states: "The extremists who are assisting a number of reasonable people in their efforts to shut up the betting clubs, which the law has said are practically betting shops of the [ class stamped out in England fifty years ago. may spoil everything by insisting on too much." Also. a> the Melbourne "Argus'' stated . s me time ago: "The movement can succeed only so far as it carries with . it the large body of sober-minded f and moderate people, who desire to j put down a Haunting abuse but have too shrewd an appreciation of human nature to attempt the impossible." Dean Harper, preaching in th.: - Cliristchurch Cathedral recently, * stated: "He had no hesitation in 1 saying thai he saw no harm whal- ' ever in the Old English sport of B horse racing by itself. So long as 8 we were Englishmen most of us would like horses. . . . What he

warned was for all Christian people to go to races if they liked, but to refuse to lake part in gambling." Again, the question arises, What is gambling.' A person may invest a a pound in gold, silver, oil ,or any other shares without being called a gambler, but when the invcstir-nt is on a horse race it is termed gambling. If a man becomes bankrupt through horse racing, there is at once a general outcry against the sport, but it his difficulties are caused through bad speculation in land or shares, the outcry is one of sympathy. The turf is often charged with many evils it is not responsible for. If those g'.od pepole who are endeavouring to stop gambling will confine their atiuntions to ridding the turf of its evils and endeavour to secure purer racing they will have the majority of the population to assist them. In conclusion, let no one think 1 am defending gambling, but 1 do strongly defend the oid sport of horse racing, and stronger still condemn the abuses which men have caused lo endanger the Sport of Kings.