THE EARL OF RANFURLY AND THE RACES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9882, 12 November 1897, Page 3

THE EARL OF RANFURLY AND THE RACES.

TO THE EDITOB OF THK PRESS. Sib, —In company with many of your readers I was deeply grieved this morning to note the sanction that the Earl of Ranfnrly gave by his presence yesterday on the racecourse to one of the greatest curses of colonial life. Surely his Excellency has been sufficiently lone in New Zealand to know that betting ana gambling are rife in our community, to the ruin of large numbers, especially of young people, that such race meetings are the means of promoting and popularising these sins, and that Christian men are fighting a hard battle against them, without the opposition of the Queen's representative. Expediency, custom, the claims of position, may be urged as a plea in favour of the Governor's action,' and be accepted by the majority of men, but in the nobler names of righteousness and morality, I venture to protest against it, and respectfully express the hope that one whose noble " ancestors were fearless champions of righteousness," and who himself desires "to tread in their footsteps," will reconsider this question, and as fearlessly dare to value what is right above what is expedient. —Yours, ftc., Joseph J. Dokb, Christchurch, November 10th.