TIN HARE RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19792, 12 November 1927, Page 14

TIN HARE RACING.

Sir, —An ounce of tact is worth a* ton of fiction. The proposed introduction of the so-called sport of tin hare raciag in Mew Zealand calls for the consideration of all who are concerned in the welfare of our country, 1 have been at some pains to collect authentic and reliable inlormation on the matter from Britain, Australia and South Africa, and beg to submit some of the more striking facts which emerge. A writer in the Manchester Guardian says:—"There are men living in Gorton and Openshaw, and taking some part in the public life, of the city, who regret that the racecourse was ever opened. 'Why is it,' they ask, 'that greyhound tracks are always opened in the midst of industrial populations who can ill afford to risk money by betting . . 'lt astounded me,' said a gentleman to the writer 'to see the number of women who go to the races—voung married women, even, who carry their babies with them, and who not only go to watch, but to bet. Can that be considered good for the life of tbe district ?' . . . An employer who has four or five youths in his service recently told a friend that these youths made a regular practice of borrowing from the older men in the shop to bet at the dog races, and that every pay-day the older men were 'on the pounce' to'recover the money lent, before the borrowers got away from the shop, 'ihat kind of thing is no good to me,' said the employer." Even those who see little harm in adults attending these meetings will be alarmed at the reports of the crowds of boys and girls, hardly into their" 'teens, who are attracted to these coursing meetings. This aspect is not local; everywhere protests are being made against the demoralisation of children, in day schools. In Sydney a recent • investigation shows that at the Glebe and Forest. Lodge schools, m a class of 42 boys, about 12 years of age, 20 admitted having been to the 'tin hare' meeting on the previous Saturdav night. In another class of 76 boys, aged between 11 and 13 years, 44 said that they had attended. The same testimony comes from England. .Recently a* resolution was passed by the Salford Head teachers' Association:—"That this association views with considerable misgivintr tliQ proposed establishment of & * crrey* hound-racing track m Salford. In our opinion ;t is a direct encouragement of the evils of betting, and would have a disastrous influence on children." In South Africa the introduction of this "sport" with its attendant evils has evoked a passionate demand that the Government shall suppress it. The Manchester Guar dian, in a- leading article, saysßetting on horse-racing is a sufficient social evil, but even that has been hedged about with restrictions; it is the achievement of the greyhound-racers that they have made bet ting safe—and easy—for democracy, and have, at the same time, discovered a* means of great profit for themselves and the bookmakers." In this week's Punch Charivaria says:—"Our fear is that, as with other importations into that country (New Zealand), electric hares may flourish so much as to beepme a pest." Another journal, the Inquirer, says:—"So much money employed in this way indicates a gigantic epidemic of the gambling fever. Meanwhile, bookmakers thrive, racing courses are multiplied, workers are demoralised, shopkeepers are impoverished, homes are neglected, and even children are drawn into the debasing maelstrom of mad greed." Such a volum« of evidence as to the disastrous social effects should rally public opinion behind the churches who have resolved to fight this new menace to the young life of our 'and. W. Lawson Marsh. ! Devonport, Nov. 10, 1927. i