RACING AND THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 52, 29 August 1940, Page 15

RACING AND THE WAR

"We still read in the daily papers an occasional suggestion that racing and other sports should be curtailed pr stopped," said Mr. H. F. Nicoll, chairman of the Ashburton Trotting Club, in his report to the annual meeting of the club at Ashburton last evening. This evidently arose from those who were opposed to sport, and would exploit present conditions for the sake of their prejudices, continued Mr. Nicoll. In England racing had been carried on with the approval of the Government until the end of June, in spite of the universal call for war work. After a short space, racing would be started again next month after consultation between the Jockey Club and the War Office, and it would be time enough to consider the advisability of curtailing sports in New Zealand when it was agreed that the continuation was interfering with war efforts. Anyone attending the August week in Christchurch must have been much impressed by the fact that the attendances were notably larger than usual, the reason, without any doubt, being that people found in the day's outing at the races a diversion and tonic most beneficial. The season just concluded had been an anxious one for all sports bodies. While the struggle between freedom and autocracy continued through the world all would have to make every effort to win the war, but undoubtedly business and recreation had to be kept going, and it would be the club's duty to endeavour to help all those connected. with trotting during the difficult days ahead, by keeping up stakes and wages to the full extent that finances allowed.