Nor were these all people of an irresponsible class.
A great many of them will have been persons with relatives fighting for their country in one or other of the theatres of warfare.
Most of them will have been persons who have a deep sense of the realities of the conflict, and who would resent very strongly the imputation that their presence at the races implied any light-hearted lack of concern over the agonies which the Empire is suffering.
It would be unjust to allege against them that they were indifferent or callous respecting the hardships and perils to which the armies of the Empire are exposed.
They simply view the whole question of racing in a different light from that in which the bulk, probably, of the people of the dominion regard it.
The consideration of the economic waste that is associated with racing opens up another field of discussion.
This country is, despite the war - indeed, it may be asserted, because of the war, - enjoying an undiminished prosperity.
Yet, it is somewhat staggering to know that, at a time when a plea for private economy is being insistently urged by the most responsible statesmen in the Empire, a sum of 302,358 was ''invested'' on the totalisator during the seven days of the racing carnival (the trotting meeting being included) at Christchurch.
This total was 21,352 10s in excess of that ''invested'' at the corresponding meetings last year.
There is some satisfaction to be derived from the fact that, by the war tax on dividends, the State secures 6808 12s 6d from the ''investors'' of these sums.
• The residents of the Lower Harbour and surrounding district met on Friday evening in the barracks, Deborah Bay, for the purpose of bidding au revoir to four young men of the district who are shortly proceeding to Trentham - viz., A. Carey, Albert Roy, R. Lewis, and J. Fletcher. Sergeant Smith, N. Z. R. A., who presided, stated that no fewer than 12 volunteers had left from the Lower Harbour, and he hoped that still more would follow, and in presenting each of the volunteers with a wristlet watch wished them God-speed, every success, and a safe return to New Zealand.
Mr J. Fletcher, in reply on behalf of himself and his comrades, thanked the gathering for their very acceptable gift.
After the singing of ''For They Are Jolly Good Fellows'', the gathering indulged in dancing until an early hour.
During the evening refreshments were handed round, and musical items were rendered by Miss Stevens, Sergeant S. Smith, and Messrs E. Hodge, O'Grady, and Robinson. - ODT, 15.11.1915.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
