THE OPUNAKE RACES.
A LIBEL REPUDIATED. Under the above, a ci. indent to the Manaia Witness lets luuiself go as fallows:— ," 1 don't think anything so gross as t)i e scenes and circumstances of the Opunake races could be witnessed elsewhere in any British community just now.' You. have to remember that it is only a bush or back-block race meeting of the poorest kind, that the horses were of a, most inferior class, and that the county where it is held is the reverse of jnvjting. Yet crowds almost went cra2y withe time being, rushed over the roads in expensive motor cars (the newspaper says there were 050 cars on the course), emptied over £IO,OOO into the totalisator, and, if reports speak truly, drank the publican out long before the usual time. I believe it is always customary to do this at the Opunake races, but the feat was accomplished eome hours' earlier ion this occasion. What';s(irprises me is that not a single word'of condemnation of this disgraceful business appears in any of the newspapers, which sliowb that even the newspapers, which we are accustomed to look to for ft lead in Buch things, are no better in their morals than any other of the commercial classea just now. They arc out for their share in the war profits. The churches are also silent, or only a few of them have shown a sufficient sense of their duty to raise their voices in protest against the scandal. And the Government; Well; I suppose the Government reflects the bad moralsand the bad taste of the country in this matter."
The Opunake paper, as befits its position of guardianship of Opunake's interests, is very hurt at those vitriolic remarks, and gets 'buck in these terms;:; "The courage and gallantry of the correspondent in attacking what he calls a bush or hack Mock meeting, whi)st,,t.|iD. big clubs with railways running in their interest, and shipping companies plying for their consideration—W \ljffc alone. It ia ever thus with carding critics. The Opunake meeting is held once a year, and this is the only, holiday the coast people have. It is also a national holiday, and does not caiisej any dislocation of business or work. We have no city magnates or ideal rich to cater for—just merely workers, who average during the year more ihan .eight working hours per day. Then why make Opunake the stalking horse for the sins of others? The question of racing appears to us to he one for the people, and not so much for the Government. If people do (not want racing let them stay away. Let them do no betting, and the racecourse will be deserted and the totalizator go bung. But it is not political economy to get the majority to bow to a few chronics."
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Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1917, Page 2
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470THE OPUNAKE RACES. Taranaki Daily News, 5 April 1917, Page 2
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