HORSE-RACING MENACED

Evening Star, Issue 17955, 28 April 1922, Page 6

HORSE-RACING MENACED

SPORTSMEN SEEK PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION. The drum of hoofbeats on green turf; tho thrills of the struggle for supremacy of fine horses and game jockey?; gay dresses and sunshine on beautiful racecourses) rollicking days of enjoyment and good-fellowship—how much these things moan to the, average New Zealander! Yet. at this moment, one of our finest sports and relaxations is menaced by a canker from within. Betting with tho bookmaker, driven underground by illconsidered legislation, is affecting the moral fibre of people in every centre and unjustly drawing racing into disrepute. Tho road is open for tne propaganda of extremists who seek nothing less than tho abolition of horse-racing. When the Gaming Act was first par,sod, the fine, honest, breezy chaps who used to call the odds of our racecourses—men whom everybody trusted mid respected—were compelled to relinquish their prolcsidon in order to maintain their reputation.

A numlxrr of good sportsmen have now seen the mistake of this legislation, and aie endeavoring to nip its ill-consequences in the bud. A petition is at present being circulated and freely signed asking for a Parliamentary Commission to take evidence an to whether reputable men should not ho licensed to operate on racecourses only, in competition with the total hater. This is a democratic solution of the problem which has presented itself to fairminded people. If booknuddng is again made a respectable avocation it will enable the authorities to deal effectively with, the undercurrent of undesirable::.. The reputable men who would then he legalised would take a sincere interest in assisting to restore racing to its proper place in public esteem, Do your part, sign the petition to-day. It has been freely circulated, and may be signed almost'anywhero. When petitions are filled up they should be promptly returned to Box 1,011, WelAdvt.]