RACING CUTS IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23754, 28 September 1942, Page 6

RACING CUTS IN AUSTRALIA

OPPOSITION BY STATES (0.C.) SYDNEY, September 9. A demand by the Federal Government for further cuts in racing in Australia met stubborn opposition from state governments, who allied themselves with racing bodies to resist. Forthright refusal by the Victorian and Queensland Governments to accept the proposal brought a slashing attack from the Prime Minister (Mr Curtin) and a threat to invoke National Security regulations to over-ride state authority. Mr Curtin' wanted racing in Melbourne and Sydney restricted to one meeting a fortnight. The Victorian Premier (Mr Dunstan) said that as long as the Saturday half-holiday continued people were entitled to healthy out-door recreation. The number of race meetings had already been cut 50 per cent. The Queensland Government took the same stand, but New South Wales, while known to oppose additional cuts, did not express a policy, preferring to await the outcome of a conference between Mr Curtin and racing interests. Racing men argued that racing in New South Wales had been reduced to 112 meetings a year from 275 meetings last year. They suggested that it would be better to hold regular Saturday meetings in Sydney, with programmes limited to seven events. Cabinet Ministers stated that punters could have plunged on 34 races last Saturday at Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, and Sydney dogs, which was in conflict with austerity. „ , - A leading New South Wales official said that racing offers a relaxation just once a week for 3i hours for men in uniform (who are admitted to courses free), and to munition workers, and the public, without impeding the war effort. “This industry costs nothing in manpower, he said, “because it is run now by men exempt from military duty or over the call-up age, and youths under 15 years. Transport has been cut to a minimum, and the money invested in bets is not extensive when you realise that the same investments are being turned over again and again in pr with the book'"33 flttfiMn’s Views "'Attacking the attitude of the states and the racing industry, Mr Curtin said that “the army of bookmakers, clerks, and attendants needed to keep the racing game going” did not fit in the same picture with requests to release men from the Army for essential purposes. He described as stupid the cutting down of clothing supplies and other necessities while racing continued on its present scale. Referring to the declaration by the Victorian Premier (Mr Dunstan),'that Victoria was satisfied that pacing was cut to a minimum, Mr Curtin said; “It surprises me that a state which is short of firewood, due to manpower shortages for transport and woodcutting, should expect me to release men from the Army, while the whole activities of a great number of persons are devoted exclusively to the training and racing, of horses on Saturday afternoon.” “This country has a manpower problem which seeps to my desk every dqy with requests to me to release men from the Army. I am as firm a believer in relaxation as any man. I could do with a little myself, but the men, the labour, and the resources now devoted to racing are on too large a scale to be continued if this country is to do as I say it should—devote more to the purposes of war.”