RACES AND THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16499, 27 March 1917, Page 4

RACES AND THE WAR.

The plea made by Sir , George Clifford on behalf of, the maintenance of racing during the war period will riot ;: carry : conviction 'to, the public at large and does not accord with' the views of many patrons of the turf. It does not coincide with the. ■ action "l. taken '(. in •/ the Mother Country, and makes little allowance , for; : the straits ;to | which the basic industries of, the Dominion are being reduced 'through dearth of \ labour or for the urgent, need for economy ,to meet the financial ; burden of the state. :<,:,; There ;is • a strong 7, bias in human ■■■ nature > towards pursuits in which keen interest - r has, been aroused, sand- the turf makes a traditional as; well as a present appeal to ■ all i lovers ?J of ] the•;horse',' and ■■''■ its strength. Those who ignore this "and regard the' racecourse as a mere attachment : to: the ■. totalisator :. and the betting-ring will never be able to appreciate its attraction to such a mul- i titude of their fellow-citizens; ;on the other hand, )it must be obvious ; that' j the claims of the ,turf; are being greatly exaggerated .if'they cannot be waived n when the % entire. social organisation is 'at ; stake., - Even the complete suspension :of racing until the close of the war could riot affect, the breeding of. serviceable horse's I cr immediate .war use and would i not seriously affect future breeding. j In any case, we 'are' confronted by ! the 'if, fact ;• that y the 1 imperative , ; demands of this terrible struggle which has been forced upon us, and in the. outcome of which our. national existence is involved, are gradually di awing into the army that fights for us all able-bodied : men of military ago and are creating a positive dearth/of labour : : in industries which must be carried on. The Dominion surely needs its' man-power for purposes far more important and essential than the unreduced maintenance of the race , meetings which many who are. most favourably disposed to them previously regarded as excessive in number.