HC Deb 11 December 1941 vol 376 cc1666-8
34. Mr. R. C. Morrison

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the urgency of increased production, it is intended to continue greyhound race meetings in midweek?

Mr. H. Morrison

In the absence of evidence that afternoon greyhound race meetings have an adverse effect on production, there would appear to be no justification for the imposition of further restrictions on this form of entertainment.

Mr. R. C. Morrison

How does the Minister expect people to believe that we are up against it, with our backs to the wall, when mid-week greyhound racing meetings are still being held? Hundreds of workers take the afternoon off in order to attend these meetings, and they justify their action by saying that because the Home Secretary allows it there is no harm in it.

Mr. H. Morrison

If my hon. Friend will give me evidence of hundreds of workers absenting themselves from work I shall be glad to look into it. I can only say that I have made inquiries from the Departments concerned, and we cannot find the evidence. There are other forms of amusement to which people go, and I do not think that hon. Members ought to confuse their objection to a particular form of entertainment with their views on absenteeism.

Mr. R. C. Morrison

Does the Minister not appreciate that this Question is directed against the holding of meetings during the week? Will he ask the police to visit these places, so that they can tell him how many workers have taken the afternoon off to attend these meetings? Many men take Wednesday or Thursday off to attend these meetings and give the excuse that because the Minister has licensed this form of sport he must therefore expect people to go.

Mr. H. Morrison

I wish my hon. Friend would produce precise evidence. I have not got it. There have been very severe restrictions on greyhound meetings, but the issue for me is not whether I like or dislike greyhound racing. I honestly think that many hon. Members are influenced on this question. If men take an afternoon off to go to the pictures, it is just as objectionable. If my hon. Friend has evidence, I shall be delighted to follow the matter up, but I cannot find evidence from the Ministry of Labour or the Supply Departments.

Mr. Shinwell

Does the Minister not realise that when people go to the pictures or similar forms of entertainment it does not involve a waste of transport, at any rate not to the same extent, whereas people attending these greyhound race meetings do require transport?

Mr. H. Morrison

With great respect, I think that my hon. Friend is subconsciously influenced by his dislike for this form of entertainment.

Mr. Shinwell

On the contrary, I think that I have attended these meetings more often than my right hon. Friend.

Mr. H. Morrison

I have never been. If one goes round West London during an afternoon, one finds considerable queues waiting for cinema shows, and these people have to get there. It does not follow that all these people are slacking or absenting themselves from work, and one must be a little careful how far one's puritanism takes one.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

Are not theatrical entertainments taking place in Moscow?

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