BRITISH DOG RACING

Evening Star, Issue 19857, 4 May 1928, Page 4

BRITISH DOG RACING

BILL TO LICENSE TRACKS “GREAT CURE FOR BOREDOM.” > LONDON, April 20. “Betting cannot be stopped. It is almost an Englishman’s inheritance,” said Lord Askwith, when introducing to the Heine Secretary, Sir William Joynson-llicks, a deputation representing sporting and financial r interests concerned with dog racing. The deputation was supporting the Bill introduced by Colonel John Buchan, Conservative member for the Scottish Universities, to enable local authorities to license dog tracks. Speakers denied that dog racing led to juvenile betting, and contended that it decreased drinking. An instance was quoted where the returns from a public-house in the neighbourhood of a dog track at Edinburgh had fallen 27 per cent. It was also claimed that dog racing was the greatest cure for boredom, and that King Alfonso of Spam had expressed the opinion that it was the greatest cure for anarchy and Communism. ' fn his reply Sir William JoynsonHicks pointed* out that some who believed in dog racing “were animated bv the roulette board.” If that were true, ho added, the Government; as custodians of the moral welfare of the nation, must take one view. If. however, they were convinced that it was a bona-fide sport, like horse racing, they would bo compelled to regard it differently.