PIGEON-SHOOTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1916, Page 6

PIGEON-SHOOTING.

To the Editor. Mi',—With your leave 1 should like to '■ut<l my protest tu Mr Colvile's re the pigeon match .it Stratford. To the majority of thinking, humane' people, shooting pigeons in this way is the essence of brutality, and the men who in- | dulge in such sport (?) belong, of course, to that section of humanity whose mental attainments are in keeping with their amusements. Apart from this aspect, there is another. Side by side with a paragraph relating to subscriptions towards 41 motor ambulance appears the Stratford Gun Dlub's "pull." which also mentions the New Plymouth Hunt Club race's. We cannot but contrast these, and ask ourselves, what are these sports (?) doing, towards furthering the defeat of the Huns? The 'hysterical "One who is shooting next Wednesday" ventures to say lots of things in piaise the patriotism of his "comrades in arms," but I venture to assert that all- the sportsmen(?) alluded -to eaiinot be ineligible' for acthe service at the front. To return to our subject; does not the fact that motor ambulances are needed by hundreds' to carry off the battlefield the stricken men who are fighting for these sports (?) move them to shame to think of the time and energy wasted in amusements that do not help to further t'he conquest of the German? Elsewhere men and women have cast aside all private affairs possible, have neglected or given up for the time their home life and all things which are unimportant, because a sterner duty calls. I know that -all the talking in the world will not influence pleasure-seekers in general, but I can assure thesp sportsmen (?) that tjiey would prove themselves the best of sports if they deprived themselves of the pleasure of shooting little pigeons (makes one think of Germans and children), and if they are ineligible to ilioot Germans they can find, if they seek, 'ozena of opportunities of helping to success. then win the praise, 'and not the contempt, of the majority of the public, for, gloss it over as they may, this is no time for useless amusements, humane or inhumane. Mr. Colviie has voiced the thoughts of thousands who are filled with sorrow when they realise that to gain the necessary money to give a few. extra comforts to our lighting men, they, must pandei to that love of pleasure -and self-seeking which lowers the standard of our British race. 1 hope Mr. Colvile will keep right on—l am, etc,, " ON R WHO KNOWS."