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WILLIAM BENDRIE ON CANADIAN SITUATION Toronto Ont March IT The Globe publishes the following signed communication from William Hen drle president of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horsa Society SocietyTo To the Editor of the Globe In the light of the fiRures which are nov Itefore the committee and to which I now propose to advert the lament of one oC the witnesses who happens to he a prominent share ¬ holder In both these clubs over his misfortune in being a shareholder without dividends in the Hamil ton Club will read rather curiously In mitigation it may be said that at the time of his lament the figures were not before the committee The humor of the lament was not then apparent Mr Rancys argument argumentAs As I am the person referred to in the above para graph and that there may be no misconception as to my evidence before the select committee on the bill I take this opportunity of stating my views My connection with the Hamilton Jockey Club ha3 been since its inception over a period of twelve years and up to a few years ago I served it in vari ¬ ous capacities without remuneration whatsoever and have had no return up to this date for money put into the property though to be sure others in it have done 3 etter Tor themselves I am ncr longer connected with the Hamilton Jockey Club and have not been for over three years My interest in the Ontario Jockey Club brings me 50 per year Surelj Mr Raney does not consider that an excessive amount I wonder if he would look upon that as being a sufficient return for himself for a mornings work in courf for a client I have no hesitancy in stating where I stand in tills matter and notwith ¬ standing the illconceived and halfhatched ideas of Messrs Shearer Kaner et al on this drastic legislation the Miller bill if it becomes law will surely have a farreaching effect on the horsebreed iug industry of Canada from Nova Scotia to the Pacific PacificThe The various gentlemen mentioned by Mr Ranev E B Osier Senator 01 Jones Sir Montague Al ¬ lan Justice Robidoux Senator William Gibson and gentlemen associated with them stand as high for morality as those on the other side and judging from the inethods adopted l y Messrs Raney and Shearer in procuring circumstantial evidence to bol ¬ ster up their case I am of the opinion that none oC the above gentlemen would stoop to do what Messrs Raney ami Shearer did in going to the Central Prison Toronto with prepared statements and with the warden of the prison present have the prepared statements signed hy the unfortunate persons there confined This stage of the argument smacks more of the inquisition methods than straight Canadian dealing dealingI I hold no brief for the racing clubs being per ¬ fectly independent in whatever criticisms I may make of their action and I do think they have all raced too much and some of them have far exceeded the limits of what should be a recreation and a healthy sport but no fairminded person can hon ¬ estly say that that is just and sufficient grounds for imposing legislation which will seriously damage a very important Industry of Canada Evils as they exist in all walks of life can sometimes by judi ¬ cious legislation be regulated but not entirely sup ¬ pressed without great injustice and this method is what is required in Canada so far as protracted race meetings are concerned concernedMaterially Materially shorten by legislation the duration of race meetings on any track and I believe much good would result and public opinion would be satisfied to live and let live A twelvedays meeting is too long longIt It is strange that our church should have o fre oieutly to go across the lino to the south of us for Ideas of morality and social reform The proposed racing bill is an example copied as it Is entirely iSi tlleIIu7s l t in force in New York in 1K and yet can Messrs Shearer and Raney hon ¬ estly say that the Hughes law has accomplished its bject If anyone has any doubt in his mind let him i a l the evidence given before the select committee by the officers of the law from that state The stateThe matter is now in the hands of tiie peoples legislators and it Is to be hoped that they will take a broad and sane view of the whole question and not IIP stampeded into imposing legislation which will whilst on tho other hand seriously damain Bwat industry of the country and an amusmen shoulu te l hlu If Parliament should put an end to racing the stoppage will come at a time when fifty years of the King s Plate history have been rounded out I ust run m ISfiO when the winner was ridden by a man who is still actively engaged in training there lias been no interruption in its record and It stands as the oldest fixed event of the turf on this continent 1 rom a value of fifty guineas it has risen to b worth 1000 but its future value even its continued existence is dependent entirely on the fate of Mr Millers hill now before Parliament Toronto Globe
