LAXITY IN LADLING OUT THE LICENSES.

NZ Truth, Issue 103, 8 June 1907, Page 2

LAXITY IN LADLING OUT THE LICENSES.

Occasional happenings m the iliSerent parts of the colony point to the fact that too much care cannot ho exercised by "the Metropolitan Clubs m the matter of issuing licenses. - It is at all times desirable that >. no loose characters should be given, an opportunity of bringing discredit on, the sport of kinsgs, and, m .order that a healthy state of affairs may obr tain, it is essential that the stew- ; ards of tlie Metropolitan bodies should have good knowledge of the' characters of Individuals to whom licences are , issued. Unfortunately, casds crop up now awd • ajgain . which make it apparent Wdt the. officials who deal with these matters are not cognisant of a great deal tha-t goes on m sporting life. At the recent Wahganui meeting I noticed one' or two jockeys who were anything but sober, and it seems to me a pity that young fellows rcfoo possess the 'qualifications and the opportunities td rise to the top of their profession, should prejudice their chances of success by their intemperate haJbits. I would certainly "be sorry to see some of our younger horsemen ' with promising careers deprived of 'their means of' livelihood on any trivial charge, but it is necessary m the best interests of the sport that the- racing authorities should deal firmly with lads prone to over-fimiduljgeaice m strong liquor. Before to-day intoxicated jockeys have eluded the official eye so far as to 'take part m races, and the result has been an accident, for which the disciple of.. Bacchus has been mainly responsible. Members of the fraternity whto imibfi'be too freely must therefore. be regarded. as. undesirable characters, not. only on account of the discredit they bring on the Turf, but because the possible presence m a race of a jockey "flown with insolence and wine" is, without doubt, an absolute menace 'to' the safety of , 'his opponents.;