STRIKE OUT THE BOTTOM LINE ON BOTH PAPERS.

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

STRIKE OUT THE BOTTOM LINE ON BOTH PAPERS.

I „ I 'Tote. Protection League" Wants to wear. "Triithv does not fear wowser i aggression on football, cricket, hockey, ,etc, etc. -There is^ r eason »' for fearing that boxing is m danger, but "Truth" relies on 'the common- sense of the community to conserve to itself the r right of having an occasional boxing contest, notwithstanding the nonsense ' and the ignorance of the hysterical fanatics f who condemn boxing and judge the sport by what happens m countries , where there _. are no regulations such as are tp be found m New Zealand. Those who condemn boxing are generally those who' have' not witnessed . a boxing contest. Boxing e\erywhere m New 'Zealand is conducted under the most stringent regulations) and nowhere m the -\yorld is the law- so strict. -If those from whom denunciations of boxing come so frequently witnessed a contest' and acquainted themselves with the conditions m which two athletes - engage, there would be less talk and stilly less need for a' " 'Tote.' Protection League" to take up the cudgels 'of Boxing 'Associations which are, it ought to be mentioned, not money-making concerns l dud where vested interests are not allowed- , to obtrude themselves. we say, doesn't need 4 ' protection. v What is wanted is a little enlightenment upon the manner m"* which .contests are arranged. We' 1 believe i that .even a Ministers' Association would /be ,satisfied. If we except boxing, what sport is threatened, or rather was threatened, j until the •« 'Tote..' -Protection League" sprang^ into existence ? . The wowser now has his wall-eye 'oil every branch of athletic sport. Let us wait and see how the ' League will shape. ' * v *' • * Nobody denies that the "tote" 'is in v dager. It is anticipated on aU sides that the illiberal section of the next Parliament will ( early,, seek 'its abolition. Who is responsible ; for this? Why,; the racing clubs themselves. Is there any need to re-tell how 'the racing clubs, .the. head of which m the, Dominion j_s Sir George Clifford, nullified the 'law relating, to bookmakers ? The "tote." was then threatened. Because of ,the com- , petition from the "books" the clubs' conspire^ to make the bookmakers re- t sponsible for every' crime committed m the .country, and the consequence was the "book", was> driven out of New Zealand. The political pals of the racing clubs m Parliament joined with the wowsers. to kill the bookmaker. There was then no need for a "'Tote.' Protection League." Now, however, that the wowsers threaten to overwhelm the "tote." the ne- ( cessity for a' League becomes alarm - , ing. Those who are at the .bottom, of j the thing are not open enough to say ( the League exists for the purpose of , protecting the "tote.,", and the consequence'is that others" openly avow -that the < League's idea of protecting sport is "a blind.'; v Now the wowsers threaten sport of all kind. "Truth" doesn't fear the result, but it isn't too sanguine concerning the fate of the "tote.'' A League for protecting sport had better, be formed by those connected with sport. Such a League, if it declared that its aim was to protect every kind of sport and would even spread its protecting wing around the "tote.," wou i d command the consideration of the citizens. As it is Clifford's gold has turned to dross. _