THE 'TOTE' PROTECTION LEAGUE.

NZ Truth, Issue 334, 18 November 1911, Page 1

THE 'TOTE' PROTECTION LEAGUE.

( — m i I WOWSERS UP AGAINST IT. „ 1_ - '

\ ! Can the League Last?

IS IT r ORT OR SPOIL?, , . v i

There^is not that enthusiasm,, that spontaneity 'of energy and activity, about ~that anti- wowser, sport-pio-tecting movement which , the New Zealand Sports Protection League is endeavoring to foster, which, to the ordinary mind, would indicate that an effective and thoroughly organised opposition to * wowserism is 'as yet possible m the Dominion. The New ,Zea- ' land Sports _. Protection League is', as everj body is a^rare. a sort of Phcenix arising Jrom' the ashes of the, moribund. National League of Wellington, v v .mi, at one time, looked as if >it vs.. to do something, and which , w.v.i the opportunity presented' itself j to do something/. heroically failed to rite to tne c'cca.aiou,' and' gave up its .'"i/nas since, ceased to trouble ' yujif jv oui a'*' ere elisor* or" two. The „v ■, A n land Sports' Protection i. i r^i t d'd not s+art m favorable cir- . > >v an. "s, subsequent . proceedings U( .'";* r.)^ii(,i.ij ingestion that it will r v _-Ii an.v *tuiig, and^ the wholb •■ ■!. __.'-L.-ofe why it has not gamefl* r> ' ' ! J.i.cc of The sporting bodies *-\: r - j ....... _n v because the Idea Aa'.'J, and has not hv i i n.i i the League is financed i < U ji-ge Clifford's good '^old, „, r • jx a cunri of sport is ''a ■ i ' „.i •■ ''JSr*-' generally, , the ' ' < .. _ . t s 11} the piirpose of pro- *' f Hi- "lOte'."' Hence we find - ,<■ ' l -l £~f. the New ' Zealand , "'^ji League it is openly ' ' ne 'Tote.' Protection ' - i r • v "Truth" supposes that the ' tbz L&rr-inion needs, a lot of .., much more than can be d by the League m question. L sose ,w!iq. want the "tote." proi I form a Lsaguo for that par';t rir oiirpose and not connect sport ' i t v, ilh th«it species of* amuse- < ' *> }<f"5 been characterised as i oct of kin S'S," but which, in- '< y, is responsible for a des- "' - type of humanity generally*. nrd ' the spieler." Sporting o -..rerally prefer to be dis--1 . <•< • >d iiom that sort 'of person. ir ai.sone can be convinced that the p.ii rt fh*> Sports Protection League is. i> jvoteel sport' from wowser at-* tic if it can be proved th^it it isn't 1 the "tote." that Sir George Clifford's uood gold fscoks f o .protect at the expencd of sport generally, then by all pH.irs lot tiie Sports ' Protection 1 c"'4 r '* fro oi.t cnrl_ smite the wowser U ,iN*r.yo<3y, hrwever, has Ihe hardihood ? Ao '! r .'lt.ie (*wl hi the operations of "'" *this L°otii.- fne "tote." as' sport, will

I not always command first attention. Now,' on this .point ""Truth"'' 'doesn't wish to be misunderstood. The secretary to the League; Mr A. Ai Pappe, is a young/ capable official, whose 'sympathies* naturally lie m the direction of athletic' sporL and it has I to be borne m mind that of athletic , sport only boxing has? received at-_ j i tention from the ' wowser. Moreover, lit is. pertinent to remark that the League endeavorei to justify its 'ex- ' istence when on Thursday evening ■last a deputation waited upon the Wellington Citjr Council urging that professional boxing slTould be permitted m the Wellington Town Hall. I The 'difficulty, however, is this, .where an attack, is made on the "tote." .the ,"'Tote." Protection League" i assumes it to , be a, general attack on sport. .Consequently, sporting food es find themselves placed m a posjfon of fighting for the "tote " whether they like it or not. This is where Complete organisation is . impossible. This, , too, is where sport is endangered. On /Tuesday last the' following mr the daily press of Wel- | -lington : — , I , Auckland, November 13. \ 'A manifesto issued by the Auck- '■ land Ministers' Association dealing ',v v/ith ihe objects of the New Zea- . land Sports Protection 'League .was read m all the -Protestant Churches . , :on , Sunday. The manifesto states : "The league is fighting ofor, the re- \ ' stitution of ihe bookmaker, extension of the curse of the totalisator and betting, and the multiplication of racing , days. It would go even further and extend totalisator per--niits to coursing matches." The document adds : — "Football, cricket, hockey, golf, and other amateur A sports might easily follow m the extension/ The manifesto appeals to church people tp vote only for Par- . liamentary candidates who give deL finite, sati&factorj answers on the subjects of the abolition of setting and gambling, maintaining Sunday as a day of rest,' and the prohibition of prize fights. ?if \ * * ' Here', then, is a declaration of war from the wowsers. The wowsers are now' on the warpath, and' sport generally is threatened because 'a Fat lieague, which seeks to protect "the 'tote.," has sought to nobble sporting bodies and offer to protect sports which do not need protection m exchange for the use of the disguise of . "Sports Protection. League" which the '-V * 'i • ' ' \