COURSING WITH LIVE HARES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27471, 4 October 1954, Page 10

COURSING WITH LIVE HARES

PROTEST AGAINST BAN TOTALISATOR WANTED FOR GREYHOUND RACING (New Zealana Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 3. The president of the National Coursing Association (Mr F. J. C-leary) protested tonight against the Government’s dec/ion to ban live hare coursing, and asked that betting facilities be given for greyhound racing. “An outcry against so-called blood sports was raised in August, 1953, and it continued till the dying stages of this Parliament,” he said. “The Government then succumbed to the pleas of Miss M. B. Howard. M.P., and 20,000 petitioners, of whom more than 95 per cent, have never viewed live hare coursing. “Although an appeal was made to the Petitions Committee and later to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Sir William Bodkin) to have all so-called blood sports accused together, the Government decided to ban coursing. “Now that the weakling of so-called blood Sports is slain after centuries of existence, it is questionable just where Miss Howard will set her sights next,” said Mr Cleary. “She has admitted that horse racing is more cruel than live hare coursing. “There is, however, one redeeming feature of the Government’s decision. It shows that petitioners can influence the powers that be and our association can now concentrate on obtaining betting facilities for greyhound racing. “In our corner we have Miss Howard, with a pledge to support such a move. And in addition, the present Prime Minister (Mr Holland), when Leader of the Opposition, said in Christchurch that he saw no reason why a totalisator should not be granted,” said Mr Cleary.