WEDNESDAY HALF -HOLIDAY FOR THE RACES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 199, 20 February 1912, Page 6

WEDNESDAY HALF -HOLIDAY FOR THE RACES.

Toj the Editor

Sir, —I was very sorry to sec the announcement last Wednesday morning that the shops and places of business would close at 12 o'clock, on account of the races. In my opinion this action on the part of the business people is in the wrong direction. But I fervently desire to raise my protest against a repetition of this folly. It has often grieved me to sae how readily Christian people will close their shops to facilitate any sporting request which might be made. They are very obliging in this ; matter. But if Christian people have no bettar code of morals than to please all and sundry, then religion is of little value. By such like-pleasing they can-, not be the salt of the earth which they ought to be. If horse-racing were of any I utility either to the horses, as man' 3

servants, or to the spectators, then there might be some justification for the sport. But I am fully assured that there are no good results whatever to' the community—a, great deal to the contrary. The country would be a great deal saner* without it. I consider that the statutory half-holiday is quite enough to de- ] vote to such a purpose for anybody. The so-called drastic legislation lately passed to check the evil is not drastic at all. So far as I can see, the racing epidemic is as rife as ever. The "Daily News" gave the following significant intimation: "The public would be well ad; vised to be on the alert .against pickpockets during the next few days. The advent of the race meeting has brought a big influx of undesirables to the town, and according to one police officer New Plymouth is just now full of thieves." Such is the inevitable result of horseracing. Let it be remembered that horseracing and -its accompaniments are the specific creation of undesirable characters, characters which make ample work | for police, magistrates and gaol-keepers, and are a continual menace and expense to the country, and that the whole product is evil, and only evil, and that continually. To those who have the moral

and social welfare of the community at heart I ask, would it not be the wiser

course to put the screw on, rather than give further patronage by closing the shops, when common-sense and reason ] and people's requirements would have ] them open? The striking mania and the ; racing and gambling mania are fast bordering upon a state of insauity. Man has brought himself into a ruinous condition when he feels that he cannot live without this malarial fever. In my opinion, the public would be well advised to let the horse-raeing severely alone. Then they might move about without I fear of pickpockets. I would like to remind Christian shopkeepers that a share of responsibility rests upon them for the moral wreckage that follows in the wake of the races. Church people as a whole would vote out of existence the liquor by a bare majority, and then give the racing fraternity a helping hand. I confess Ido not know which of the two is the greater evil. But I sincerely hope that the churches will awake to a sense of their duty and cleanse their hands of this iniquitous patronage of horse-racing.—l am, etc., , JAMES FORTUNE. Westown, February 16.