MECHANICAL DOGS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 75, 9 January 1928, Page 5

MECHANICAL DOGS.

CONTROVERSY IN ENGLAND. REACTION FROM THE BOOM. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, January 6. Mechanical greyhound coursing is at present the centre of a hitter warfare letAVeen supporters and opponents. An extraordinary reaction set in following the boom at the end of last year, a, 'hen tracks A\ r ere springing up like mushrooms. The abandonment of the Crystal 1 Palace track Avas the first big victory for the opponents, the decision being forced on the trustees bv the overAvlielming opposition of the City or London Corporation and' the Land go County Council. Mr Thomas’s attack helped to swing the body: of opinion, which was formerly non-committal. The Greyhound Association officially declines to regard the Crystal Palace decision. as a serious set-back, and says that the increasing popularity is not arrested by the mere rejection of one or tAVO localities. 'The House of Commons will be the A’enue of the next battle. A Committee of M.P.’s and representatives of the churches announces that it- Avill fight the report to the uttermost, and is preparing a case at the request of the Home' Secretary, avlio promised to make a statement in the House of Commons on February- 7. It is expected that a Bill Avill be prepared empoAvering local authorities to veto greyhound racing. Furthermore, a conference Avill shortly be held at which bishops and .other prominent persons are to speak. The Greyhound Associar tion has taken up the challenge to pro tect investments, which total £3,000,(XX). by the formation of a Greyhound Pro!action Society. The Hon .on Council to-day rejected plans for tracks, thereby joining Northampton, Newcastle, Sw'ansea, 'Bristol, Wolverhampton. Chester, Reading, Ramsgate, Isle of Man, and several London suburbs. The sport is entirely' banned in Spain.

Mr J. H. Thomas, on behalf of an all-party deputation of members of the House of Commons to Sir W. Joynson-Hic-ks, said that nobody contended that the workers did not need relaxation, but, representing every part, sectioni, creed, and "ism,” the deputation contended that dog racing was unsportsmanlike and demoralising. He knew of nothing that had so- "caught on” with the workers so' calculated to have demoralising results and so likely to ruin Ifomes. The deputation intended at the earliest opportunity to test the feelings of the House of Commons. It was expected that the Government would say it was not a party issue. Money-lenders appeared in factories. He personally knew of many cases where a whole week’s w r ages had been mortgaged in advance. lt was a damnable tiling if thousands of children’s Sunday dinners were to be dependent on dog racing on Saturday night.