RACING AND POLITICS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 15080, 1 December 1919, Page 7

RACING AND POLITICS.

MR. ISITT AND THE TOTE. (Special to tho Herald.) CHRISTCHURCH,; this day. "I am called a Wowser, and I don't believe m hiding my light under a bushel,;' stated JUr L. M . Isjtt,. ih^ the course J of "■ his political »ad,d^e§s *lnst evening. "I -got into very rgrea-tf: trouble for what I said about raCSmg'Hhe other day, Mr Isitt continued. "{ 1 am not a perfect man, and I frankly admit that I used one expression, one phrase that I could havo put much Icsh objectionally and with greater effect. There are some who imagine that ft man, when speakingamongst a, hail of interjections, should frame his sentences as if he were writing a letter. When I spoke jl was having a warm time, and I said that the modern racecourse was a nest of blackguards. I recognise that many mefn who go to races are infinitely better^ than I am, but I do believe that tho; raceco\irse is the scene of a great deal' of human degeneration and evil. StilM am not mad enough to think that I am' going to put an end to races. There .are thousands who enjoy races, and who say it does not do any. harm, but I ask you as sensible people of this New ZealSnd, with a rocky road to travel and a stile to get over, can we afford to put half a million through tho tote m a fortnight? Can we afford to put £6,000,000 through m a year?- j A voice : No. ' Speak to your little grocer or butcher, j and ask wliat their experience is. They will tell you that ,the gambling fever is getting a- tighter grip of the people who were least able to spend money m this way. While I' do not think that I can stop racing and gambling, I say that it is not right that the Government should support it. I was asked to support the double totalisator, and was told that it would stop bookmaking, but one pi the leading racing men came to me, and said : "Don't go m for tho double tote swindle, becau.«o it is absolutely a ; fraud as regards stopping , bookmakers. It will tremendously increase the revenue .and help the racing clubs." Mr Isitt went on to say that his racing friends i had professed to bo against the bookj maker, yet m tho Postal Bill there were two clause* put m to protect them. "You would have thought," Mr Isitt! continued, "that all tho racing men would have got up and said 'Isitt. we will help you there,' but not a bit of it. Their sympathy was with the bloodsucker and against ihe wpWser. I amj not a spoil sport. T am not against snort," said Mr Isitt, "but I believe that this thing is doing a tremendous financial and moral hurt to the country, and whether I offend you or not, if you send me to the House, I will do my best to stop book-makers and prevent on in.crease ni racing permit?.