THE DEMNITION BOW-WOWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1920, Page 3

THE DEMNITION BOW-WOWS.

i (To the Editor.) Sir,—Where are we heading for? Some »iioJ advice was given the community recently by the chairman of the Bunk of. New Zealand with regard to economy and Increased production, etc. The Government, the Press, and all thinking people who note how out Utilities la every direction keep mounting up, agree that the carrying out of this advice Is the one thing essential. Very well; hdw are we setting about it ? Thirty-eight more racing—otherwise gambling—permits to start with! Can anyone form the remotest Idea of the value of the time lost by scores of thousands of people in these thirty-eight extra days? Where does economy or mere production come in? Your sporting writer, discussing the "bookie," etc., tells us that gambling is immensely popular amongst postal and railway people. Yet the country has just granted a huge sum by way of increased pay to these same people, although they seem to have more money than they know what to do with already. Our sporting friend also bewails the fact that Wanganui Is pushing the racing fraternity further out into the country. He blames the "kill-joys," but perhaps the Wanganui intention is to save babies by building houses for them on the present course, and this will be in favor of the economy and production advice. Which is better, a "kill-joy" or a baby killer"? Jlien Wanganui seems to have money to spare for woollen ralllß. Not so New Plymouth. All tile latter place wants Is more racing facilities, and six more race days. The president of the Jockey Club says also that more totaltsator accommodation is absolutely necessary. AH this, of course, in the interests of economy and production I Should anyone suggest woollen mills, say, as being a better proposition, he will probably be called a "wild and woolly wowser" or something to that effect, but this is just a detail. What I would like to suggest is that your Borough Council should send these racing, or gambling, people to Sentry Hill, or Jericho, or somewhere, and build houses all over that fine high and healtliy area—the present racecourse, and bring sonic of those people up out of the slums to rear good sturdy youths to help take the places of our best and bravest "go.no West," depend upon it they will all be wanted. We don't want seven-stone freaks reared in slums and only fit to perch, monkey fashion, on alleged racehorses. The country is better without that brand of humanity, brought up under conditions that appalled your worthy Mayer lately. I think, though, he was only officially appalled, as hi his capacity of house and land agent he, of course, Knew of these conditions all along. He struck a benuly one day—a score or so of unfortunates huddled in some shack. This was quite a Mayoral joke. But then the Mayor and Council are going to leinedy all this. How? By promoting a Bill io increase the number of race (lays from four Io ten—all in the interests of economy and production I Snakes alive, what are they giving usl But, Sir, in regard to these extra race days, the average old hushle is wondering how the roads will stand the extra traffic. Our rales—'hospital and general—keep piling up. About half the hospital patients don't pay any fees Is the tote to blame here again? Anyway, the unlucky ratepayer has to ininke tip the loss, and hospital nurses have to toil away at a sweating wage. Our masters of the Press and the borough tell us they won't allow toll gates or motor tax. A tyre tax is suggested, by way of a "red-hor-rirnr." but any revenue from such a source could only mean a drop in the bucket towards the cost of road upkeep nowadays. Se the unluck,y County ratepayer must pay u|> and try to look pleasant. But we are hoping the County Council will stick to their guns, and try to secure some sort of relier from the certain effect on tiie roads of I his latest proposed racing scandal. About the most popular proposition in the country districts just now would hj/ a referendum on Iho question of squashing the totalisator., It would go out to a certainty. To conclude, Sir, even al the risk of incurving the more or less well-meant title of "kill-joy," I submit that Mr. ManiaUrn's oft-quoted saying supplies a suitable answer to the question, "Where are we heading for?" Apologising for trespassing so far on your valuable space.—l am, etc., OLD BUSHIE. Mtnrorni. 11th Auamt.