END TO SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 9

END TO SPORT

CALL IN AUSTRALIA

PROBABLE ACTION

(0.C.) . SYDNEY, February 18. Organised sport, particularly horse-racing will probably come to an end in Australia as a result of the exhortation from the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, that leisure time must be devoted to war work. Sporting' bodies have been stirred by the inference behind Mr. Curtin's words, and are willing, at the lifting of his hand, to abandon :11 programmes. The Australian Jockey Club, through the chairman, Mr! George Main, has made it clear on more than one occasion that the governing body of racing is behind the Government in every move towards winning the war. Directors of other racing clubs, also, have announced their willingness to comply with every wish of the Government. . It is believed that if the Government decides on any restriction of sport it will aim particularly at horse-racing.' Ministers claim that production in every branch of industry is hampered by the time employees spend studying and discussing racing form. They fear that well-organised starting-price betting organisations are operating in most factories and establishments where many men work. All this, it is claimed, takes men's minds ' from essential war work and causes loss of hundreds -of man-hours of production each week. Several Ministers recently have commented adversely on the amount of time radio stations give to horse training gallops, discussions on form, and descriptions of races. Horse-racing is a big industry in Australia. Thousands of pounds are tied up in horses, stables, and courses, and it provides employment for thousands of men.

LARGE CROWDS A DANGER. One of the main objections to continuance of sport is the danger of large crowds congregating in congested areas. Mr. Curtin.said: ? "Whatever criticism it may evoke, I tell this nation that, as things stand today m Australia, brains and brawn are better than either bets or beer. Brains and brawn are demanded in every war job. We have to pep up essential production. We have to organise the unstinted and unflagging resistance which will enable us not to become a people governed by others." Mr. Curtin's reference to beer is taken as a hint that breweries, whose profits in the last 12 months have been greater than ever before, may have some restrictions placed on their output.

The Rugby Union had not decided earlier whether or not to carry on with grade competitions, but generally officials were against it. Mr. Curtin's statement will probably settle the question. Rugby League, which had mapped out its programme, intimated that it was prepared to abandon its plans immediately the word was given by the Government.