To the Editor of the ""Nomrt-Ciixa Darty New Sim,—While I was glad to read the vigorous views on greyhound racing as expressed by your correspondent "X" and, in a very much milder and apologetic vein, in one of your sub-leaders, such protests fare I fear, too late.
We have now two fully established concerns flourishing at the expense Of the pockets of many thousands of Chinese, the majority of whom most certainly cannot afford their Tosses, and proof that this is not a fancy' picture, is found in. the protests made by Chinese authorities Against the formation of any further tracks, and requests that the Council will take some action regarding the two already at work. But as [have sai, itis too late and the mischief is already at work and it is impossible to forecast its posible and ultimate effects on the Chinese community alone, who by their numbers are. in' avast majority at every meeting.
But the situation is mot without another disturbing aspect. When greyhound racing. was first started in England, public opinion almost throughout the country, was strong against the idea, on the very sound grounds that there are quite enough forms of gambling as it is. I think I am also correct in saying that the Jead in these protests, was largely taken by the clergy, of all denominations and. it is) most ratifying, to note the considerable amount of success that attended the forts mate, either to prevent the formation of tracks, or to reduce their number, taking' the country as a whole Now the moral aspect is exactly the same in China, in spite of the Siew probably hel by mine out of ten of your readers that the Chinese are born gamblers anyhow, and that where they of concerned, any such scruples are childish.
Leaving such an argument on one side, were we not entitled to look to tome form of protest from the clergy of Shanghai, and some kind fof am attempt on. their part Advise and lead public opinion when these greyhound schemes were frat mooted? Ido. mot say. any such Protest would have been effective, but it would have at least indicated that a sense of the moral aspect did exist in a quarter where the layman naturally Tooks for it.
The opportunity was not taken and thanks to foreign fand largely foreign capital, at rate in the early stages. we hav now two folly working. associat whose inBuence on the general
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.