RACING AND WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21202, 27 August 1940, Page 8

RACING AND WAR

QUESTION OF CURTAILMENT FORM OF RELAXATION The proposed curtailment of race meetings during the war period is opposed by the Auckland Houses of Entertainment and Places of Amusement Industrial Union of Workers. “Our primary reason for taking this stand is that racing provides many hundreds of New Zealanders with part, or all, of their livelihood, and a large number are members of our union,” said the secretary, Mr W. T. Quealy. “The principal reason advanced by those advocating the curtailment of racing appears to be that such curtailment would assist the war effort. We hold the opposite view, as racing is an important source of taxation. Its maintenance does not require the consumption of materials used for war purposes, and it provides a very iarge amount of the people with a form of relaxation ideally suited to offset the strain and stress of war. The circumstances with respect to racing in England are different from those in this country, as the economic and climatic conditions in England militate against racing becoming the principal, or one of the principal, forms of outdoor amusement, as it is in New Zealand. “A recent statement made reference to the saving of petrol that would result from the curtailment of racing,” added Mr Quealy. “We cannot see how the conclusion has been reached, as very little petrol Is used in carrying on the sport. Most of the petrol is used by patrons. As all motorists are allowed a limited amount of petrol each month, and as practically all motorists use the amount allowed, whether they are patrons of the turf or not, it is safe to assume that petrol used to attend race meetings would be used in other directions.

Reference has also been made to the incongruity of holding race meetings while men were dying,” concluded Mr Quealy. “However, racing is no more incongruous than golf, dancing or playing bridge, or most other forms of amusement. The fact that men are dying, and people are in constant danger of violent death, adds to the mental strain of warfare, and makes the provision of facilities for suitable relaxation essential. To thousands of people in New Zealand the most suitable form of relaxation is the ‘sport of kings’.”