INTERFERENCE WITH SPORT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 147, 14 August 1911, Page 8

INTERFERENCE WITH SPORT.

UNITED‘ACTION TO BE TAKEN

A STRONG' ASSOCIATION FORMED.

At the conclusion oi' the Auckland Racing Club meeting on .Monday afternoon (cays the “Star”) Messrs. W. E. Hackett (ohairnian) and it. A. Armstrong (secretary) as delegates from the Mutual Sports Protection Association addressed the mom hers on the necessity of taking united action to protect the interests of sport against the attacks being made on it by a certain section of the community. Mr Joint Rowe was voted to the chair.

.Mr Armstrong, who was the first speaker, said it was necessary to draw the attention of all'sportsmen to the danger that was threatening sport by the extremist., They had full evidence of this by the recent legislation, and the issue was some what larger than appeared to the man in the street, for there was not the slightest doubt that more than the abolition of the “tote” was at stake. ft could not bo doubted that interference with our sport was having a groat effect on our national character, and, aftci all, was life worth living if it was only for making money? He asked ti e members of the club if the sport was worth protecting; if so it was wmth fighting for and fighting well.

Mr Hackett said he wanted them to concentrate their minds on whether they wanted racing or not. He had not tho slightest doubt, and lie deliberately stated, that the “tote” was never in greater jeopardy than at present. They not only had to light the extremist, but there was also the representatives of clubs to be placated, who, smarting under a sense of what they thought injustice through their clubs losing their permits, were working hard to put out the totalisatcr. The totalisator was essential to racing, for tiro bookmaker had been abolished, and if they lost the machine it was hardly likely they would got the bookmaker (who had already been outvoted) back. They should use every reasonable endeavour to retain their privileges, and ho thought the object could be brought about by reciprocity with other sports bodies, and unless this was attained, lie had gloomy forebodings as to the future. A monster meeting was o be.held in His Majesty’s Theatre on the first available date, probably early in September, and it behoved all sportsmen' who were not afraid to lie iidentified with sport to bo present. The Mutual Sports Protection Association had grown into a big body, and although they had not boon much before the public it was simply because they had no desire to make a definite move until, they had everything ready. They had been working hard, and were now in a position to make their power felt at the forthcoming elections. Tho chairman gave the meeting an idea of what had boon done in Wellington at tiro meeting of the Sports Protection League, and said it was generally agreed there, “No tote, no vote.” In reply to Ids query the secretary (Mr Armstrong) said that the local association had a membership of approximately 3000, while branches wore being formed in every district, the latest being Tuakau, which that day had forwarded a cheque for £2 2s towards the funds of the association. Mr C. E. Major moved, and Mr W. Davies seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Hackett and Armstrong, which was carried amidst applause.