SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 10

SPORTS PROTECTION LEAGUE

REPLY TO CRITICISM. (Pkh Unitsd Pbzss Association.) WELLINGTON, November 14. The manifesto issued by the Auckland Ministers' Association dealing with tho objects of the Now Zealand Sports Protection League was dealt with at a meeting of tho board of the league to-day. The report supplied states that on November 1 Mr. 11. D. Hell (chairman), on behalf, of the Board of Control, made a statement of tlic objects and purposes of the league. Tho leaguo is not working for tlie restitution of the bookmaker in any shape or form, and is not working for a further extension of the totalisator or multiplication of racing days. Tho league desires to prevent furtlier inroads on sport generally, and is defensive, not defiant. On the 7th inst. tho Coord of Control 1 formally and officially, through tho Hon. T." Mitchelson, caused to be published in tho Auckland Herald and Auck- . land Star the following statement"Tho Protection Association. Sir,—l have been instructed by tho Wellington Board of Control of the Spoits Protection Association of New Zealand to state that the board ia entirely opposed to the licensing of bookmakers, or extending the totalisator beyond racecourses." On the 12th inst. the Ministers' Association caused to be read -in tha church® a do-, nunciation of the leaguo, and infonned congregations that the league " is fighting for the restitution of bookmakers, tho oitension of totalisator betting, and a multiplication of racing days. It would go even further, and extend totalisator permits to coursing matchcs." The Board of Control contends that either the statement in tho Ministers' Association's manifesto is without foundation, of that Mr Bell, Mr Mitchelson, and tho Board of Control, for whom they spoko, have made a false public statement as to the object* and purposes of tho' league; but the chairman of the board (Mr Bell), tho Hon. Mr Mitchelson, and the Board of Control knew what they were talking about, and are rwponsible for their public utterances. The Ministers' A/rociation has no knowledge of tho subject, and apparently has not deemed knowledge to bo a condition essential to clerical denunciation. A copy of this statement is being forWarded to the Auckland Ministers Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, November 14. Considerable surprise is felt in local sports.circles regarding what ia considered 'to be tho extraordinary manifesto issued by the. Auckland Association concerning the New • Zealand , Sports Protection League. Tho manifesto was brought under tho notice of Mr A. Uoyle (president of the looal branch of tho league) by a Press representative to-day, and Mr Bovlo was quito amazed at the violence and virulence of tho attack made —an attack which was based on 'entirely wrong premises. " Tlm sole object of the league," ho declared, "is to protect and purify sport It is absolutely untruo to say that we arc fighting for tho restitu-tion-of tlio bookmaker,or that wo desire tho extension of the totalisator, or that wo would mult : plv tho number of racing days in the year. If the secretary of tho northern branch caused tho ministers to believe what they scein to believe in their manifesto, then ho was altogether exceeding his duties, and claiming for the league objects which it does not profess and has no wish to profess. The league has nothing whatever to do with tho claims attributed to it by the Auckland ministers. The league does not stand for tho bookmaker nor for an increase in the days of racing, nor for the extension of the totalisator, nor the liquor interests. It has nothing to do with any of thwe. Tho league, moreover, is against all public exhibitions of sport on Sundays, but it believes that each individual has the right to spend part of tho hours of Sunday'in harmless amusement, provided that by doing so he gives no offence to the community in general."