SPORT AND POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1182, 18 July 1911, Page 4

SPORT AND POLITICS.

PROPOSAL TO FORM A LEAGOE. An interesting referenco to the position of horse racing was made by Mr. .T. Howe, of Auckland, chairman of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, at yesterday's meeting. Mr. Bowo remarked that so as to resist (ho attempts of the anti-sporting party who endeavour, by a gradual process, to injuro tho sport of horso racing and to extinguish the legalised form of betting, the matter of forming a Now //salami Sporting Leaguo had been brought up at the last meeting. Mr. Sclig had stated that those who believed' that racing and trotting could not be carried on without some form of speculation believed that the totalisator was tliH best means of betting they could have. Such people formed a very numerous body, and they should endeavour to do what had bnen done in England, where, the National Sporting League had influentially controlled the election of a very large number of candidates who were firm on the question of the liberty of the subject. Ho understood that all racing and trotting clubs had been notified by the committee, who had the matter in hand, to attend a meeting in the Town Hall to-night for the purpose of establishing tho leaguo on proper lines, and similar to those of tho English Leaguo, which was formed to resist tho encroachments of tho various bodies who interfere with sports and tho recreations of the people. In this view tho main endeavours were to influence public opinion (without regard to party politics) in the interests of sport so as to enable the people to anniso themselves in future without molestation, and to generally do whatever may seem advisable for counteracting the pernicious influence of what is termed in England "the nieddlin." Puritanical Party." The elections would bo held in November, and there was no reason in the world why supporters of the totalisator should not use every legitimate means in their power to "secure the return to Parliament of men who will support their particular views. Jlor-o racing in Now Zealand had clnnis for many thousands of people, and the totalisator had armies of votaries but if Ihev (the racing public) did not or?nni.«V against the opposing forces they would certainly be both outnumbered and outgeneralled.