RACING AND RECRUITING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XL, Issue 12695, 15 November 1915, Page 5

RACING AND RECRUITING.

UPTURNED SOLDIER'S 'STIRRING SPEECH. STARTLING INTERLUDE AT CHRISTCHL-RCH MEETING. (Daily Times Correspondent.) Cluistchurch. November 13. Just before the fourth race started at Riccarton to-day, Captain »«on, »} permission of Mr W. F. chairman of the committee, led about 100 returned soldiers into the and to the large crowd assembled 01 either side of the birdcage delivered a short but stirring recruiting address Captain Simson .-aid he had left, his appeal until the last day in order that r.o one would accuse linn of not being a •■port. "1 am," he said, -'addressing tie stewards, because they are responsible for the gathering here 1 wish, to tell them they are not only stewards :.nd trustees of racing, but they aie ui*o trustees for every young man and woman here to-day... and the whole Empire is at the point of a crises. ■'•'Hear, hear"), I will not be any more fitter than I can possibly help, wi not sav some of the harsh tilingI would like to, but if it were not lor headlines in the newspapers you would not know there was a war 011.— ". Hear, hear.") You, as stewards and as old residents of New Zealand, aie 1 for this gathering to-day. Vou cannot expect the men in this crowd to think seriously of the war wliile you hold race meetings ana < Largo for admission. —(Loud applause). I know what the men are putting up with at the front. If you think ..vou are running your racing for patriotic purposes and entertaining us and gettir.<_- funds for the war, and for soldiers comforts —if that is going to clear your conscience, then you are making a very big mistake." (Loud applause). • ; You hive not taken this war seriously yet.'' continued Captain Simson, addressing the crowd. "You may make ativ excuses —the defence authorities, the local camp, Mr Allen, and so 011. If you were men at. all you would go barefooted into the camp for the privilege- cf fighting for your King." Returning to the stewards. Captain Simson said: ''We are not going to fight for you for 5s a day.—(Rear, hear.") You can't give us enough nionev for that." A voice: "Rub it into the squatter. Captain Simson (to the crowd): "I say every one of you who are lit- for fight are absolute shirkers. — (Ap plause.) You are absolutely indifferent callous rotters; but I do not blame you altogether.'' A voice: 'Give us conscription." Captain Simson: "I will give you that and a lot more. It. is the older ri.cn or New Zealand who should gi''v >Oll the lead, and tell you what; you should do- They should make vou go, and make their own class and all go. Recrutir.g is at a. dead end :n New Zealand. You have ignored the appeals 01 your King, the press —everv appeal, from Parliament, and your dead and wounded countrymen." "You 011 this side." said Captain Simson. then addressing the grand stand enclosure. "If you are not fit lor service, should find out every yoi;ri;T man that is, and your duty is to provide for him and his dependents/' "My appeal,", said Captain _Sini. ; pn to the stewards in conclusion, "is this: whether racing should go on for the next six months or not is your affair. Ignore that, but in doing so remember that you are dealing with ah everincreasing number of returned men." Hearty cheers were given for the returned soldiers, followed by \ groans '•for the men who send their horses cut," the horses for the next race having just appeared a moment before.