RACING SHOULD STOP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16502, 30 March 1917, Page 4

RACING SHOULD STOP.

LEADING SPORTSMAN'S VIEW, HANDICAP OX WAP, WORK. [bt tkle<;b.ap.h.own cop-nr.?pon-dent.] CHRISTCHCRCH. Thursday, The following letter has been addressed to the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. f». W. Russell, by Mr. K. R. Gait ness, the Mayor of Timaru. who has been a member of the New Zealand Racing Conference almost since its inception;-.

" I feel it my duty to inform you what happened on March 16—the day of tie Waimate races. The freezing works here were working at high pressure, and thousands of sheep and lambs waiting to be slaughtered had to be held over because the butchers took a whole holiday to attend tho races. I consider this sinful. I hope the Government will seriously take into consideration the advisableness 'of stopping racing altogether, or reducing it by two-thirds during the currency of the war. If racing, which I consider is not! essential, were stopped hundreds of men such as bookmakers, " guessers," punters, trainers, jockeys and others, would ha available for essential work, of which the country is so much in need at present. " I nave been a lover of sport all my life, and a member of the Racing Conference very nearly since its inception. Still I am of opinion that on account of tha crisis throigh which the British Empire, is passing, all pleasures should be prohibited. Hoping the Government will give this urgent matter its immediate con,.' sideration."

When the Hob. W. D. S. Mac Donald was in Timaru this week. Mr. Guinne'a also impressed upon him the desirableness' of prohibiting, or substantially curtailing, racing for the period of the' war. Hl3 Minister said he held similar views to those of Mr. Guinness. Mr. MacDonaid added that he had two horses, but ha woul3 prefer to turn them out to gray rather than see racing continued.

POLICY IN REGARD TO TROTTING, EXECUTIVE TO MEET NEXT WEES. [bt telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION] CHBISTCHUECH. Thursday. " The executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference will meet in Christ-, church next week to consider the question of carrying on the sport of trotting daring tho war.