THE DEMNITION BOW-WOWS

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1920, Page 2

THE DEMNITION BOW-WOWS

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l have no wish to enter Into a long controversy with that prolific and more or less enlightened writer, "Moturoa," and he is welcome to the last word. One cannot afford to waste time With his class. "Moturoa" says gambling Is increasing fast—the people like it. So, accordißgly, we should increase the' racing permits. I suggested if we do it will bo in direct opposition to the universal demand for economy and Increased production, and will lead us to the "bowwows." My prediction about the title of "kill-joy" has eventuated, but there is no harm done in that connection. The one who hasn't a leg to stand on always falls back on "names." The gambling champion Is a "sport"; the economy and production advocate a "kill joy," "wind bag," etc. Very good; we'll not quarrel about It. My sporting friend suggests I've been too long in the bush. Well, yes, Sir, it's a good while since the year 76, getting on to half a century, and during that time I must have done imy bit towards feeding all and sundry. Including a varied assortment of parasites, mostly connected with racing, or, more correctly, gambling. Very few object to a limited amount of railing as a sport, but everyone knows that it has become mere camouflage for gambling. Someone just .lately said it was an institution to "fatten the fat," in other words to "grease the fat pig." The few rich get richer, while the poor get poorer. That most valuable of all things during these days of universal shortage—time—la lost. Why lose more still by Increasing the number of race days? Women and children call aloud for house shelter. "Moturoa" and Co. say carpenters, painters, plumbers, and the rest "jind hundreds deep round the totalisator'lbout forty more days in the year I Our sporting friend tells mo certain jockeys come from the country districts. Sorry to hear it. They could do far more good for themselves and the country by helping to produce necessaries on tho land than starting life at five shillings a week, as a poor little chap told your S.M. lately. Doubtless these 1 boys are employed by "Moturoa'a" "leading citizens." If so, then I suggest the term "driving citizens" as itiore suitable. As regards Wanganui, "Bushie" holds that even a railway station has its uses, and would always vote out "racing facilities" in. Its favor. 1 ''Old Bu3hie" hasn't attended a race meeting ■ for quite a while, and therefore has missed 1 tho opportunity of seeing our friend's Ma ' and Sisters Silo and Liz. in their brand new teddy-bear costumes. Presumably these £l5O outfits are reserved for winter meetings, as I understand clothing requirements for summer (meetings are of somewhat lighter nat- > uro, and are valued by the ounce. But, ■ Sir, the person who throws off about "wlnd- ; bags," etc., and then fills up half a column 1 with a lot of stuff that has no bearing on tlie question that he pretends to set out to criticise is not worth using up your valuable space over. The question of the hour is more and more production—in houses, coal, ce- * mtnt, farm produce, and what not, and the " advice of an old way-back to tho sensible r toller of to-day Is: Waste no time, earn all ! you carl while wages and conditions are good; ' some day you'll need it all. Build for the 1 shelterless, and provide food for your young defenders growing up. Do your bit towards nuking good the wide-world shortage. Hang round a totallsator house for more precious days as "Moturoa" and his friend* would have ' you An, and the "Demnltion bow-wows" will F become a reality. Apologising for again tre3- ' passing on your space.—l am, etc., ' "OLD BUSHIE." 1 Mangorel, August 2lst.