ENGLAND’S EXAMPLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4005, 11 August 1915, Page 6

ENGLAND’S EXAMPLE.

A LESSON FOR NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. "AUCKLAND, August 10. The Auckland Ministers’ Association, at its last meeting, passed a strongly-worded resolution bearing on tho question of government action in regard to racing and the use of alcohol during the progress of the war. The resolutions which wero sent to the .Prime Minister, and were signed by the. president of the association (tho Rev'E. A. Kirkwood) and tho secretary (Mr William lirakenrig), read as follows : • “(1) This Association records res appreciation of (lie action of tho Prime Minister in requesting the Churches of the Dominion, through their respective heads, to observe Sunday, August 8, as a day of prayer on behalf of tho nation. (2) It rejoices in the action of ITis Majesty the King, supported by his leading statesmen and soldiers, in placing a ban upon alcohol during the period of tho war. ('.)) It further rejoices to know that racing In Groat Britain has been practically abandoned at tlto Government’s request and that various restrictions have been.placed upon tho sale of alcohol. (-1) And that tho example of the King and his Government lias been followed in various states of tho Empire.” The resolution passed by.the association goes on:— “That the Association deeply regrets that no corresponding action lias been taken by tho Government in New Zealand to restrict these publiclycontrolled forms of sport and pleasure with which great public evils are associated. During this time of national crisis and peri! it has noted with disgust and indignation that not only have tile racing clubs made no offer to abandon or lessen their racing fixtures, as suggested by sections of the Press, but, in some cases, they have anticipated pos si hie Government action by protesting against any increase in the small proportion of their huge totalise.tor profits now being taken for public purposes. It would respectfully point out: that agricultural shows, football, cricket, and other sporting fixtures have been largely abandoned, owing in part to the commendable fact: that the members and players have largely enlisted, and in part to (lie conviction that the present grave hour, alien the liberties of the nation and the world are at stake, is no time for play. It begs further to point out that the uninterrupted continuance of racing fixtures involves tho continued employment of large stall's of racing oliicials, not to speak of a crowd of men who surreptitiously guima Jiving therefrom and that, as a class, these men who follow the socalled Sport of Kings arc scarcely represented in tho rank's of tho soldiers who are striving for the preservation of, out linyrlics, Tins condition of things is an offence to the conscience of a multitude of citizens. We therefore hog the Government to take action in the Dominion remove from New Zealand tho reproach of being one <:J tho few States in the Empire which, in regard to publiclycontrolled and ouestionable lToms of sport and pleasure, is still acting on they motto “Pleasure as Usual.” Tue Prime Minister has replied as follows: “1 have noted the representations in regard to these matters submitted on behalf of the Association and slmil bo glad to bring your oonimi.iiiicai.ian before Cabinet for consideration.”