HORSE-RACING MENACED

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 29 April 1922, Page 5

HORSE-RACING MENACED

SPORTSMEN SEEK PARLIAMEN-

TARY COMMISSION.

The drum of hoof beats on green turf; the thrills of the struggle for supremacy of fine horses and game jockeys; gay dresses and sunshine on beautiful racecourses; rollicking days of enjoyment and good fellowship—how much these things mean to the average New Zealander I

Yet, at this moment, one of bur finest sports and relaxations is menaced (by v canker from within. Betting with th© bookmaker/driven underground by illconsidered legislation, is affecting the moral fibre of people in every centre and unjustly drawing racing into disrepute. The road is open for the propaganda of .extremists who seek nothing less than - ( the abolition of horse-racing.

When the Gaming Act was first passred, the fine, honest, breezy chaps who -.used to call the odds of our racecourses —anen whom everybody trusted and it-spected-—were compelled to relinquish •th#ir profession in order to maintain thftjr reputation. Ayjiumber of good sportsmen have now seenfthe mistake of this legislation, -and -are. endeavouring to nip its ill consequences in the bud. A petition is at present being circulated and freely (Signed, : *sking for a Parliamentary Com.mission .£» take evidence as to whether men should not be licensed to -operate o» racecourses only, in competition with the totalisator. This is a .solution of the problem which has* presented itself to fairminded jueople. If bookm aKnjr is again made a respectable av'^ei_tion it will enable the authorities to i^al effectively wftfi, the undercurrent of* tjindesirabies. The reputable men who Tfould then be legalised would take a sincere interest in as* fiisting to restore ra<*'«g to its proper place in public esteem. Do your part, sign £_> petition today* It has been freely C i.rculated< and may be signed almost anvwh.\7 re- ''' When petitions are filled ™P ™ey should be prbmptlv returned to Box 1011, Wellington.—Advt.