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Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1917, Page 2

The annual meeting of the Westland Racing Club last night was able to review the celebration of tile golden jubilee of the Club this year with feelings of entire satisfactoin. There is no doubt that interesting event passed off most successfully, and there cannot be anything but pleasurable feelings a‘tl the records put up, and on which the Club can look back upon with such satisfaction. The Club after many years of vicissitudes has now established itself on a racecourse in every way complimentary to the management and the reputation of the district. It Is very unfortunate that having reached that point circumstances arc so affecting the sport that for the coming season there will be an enforced curtailment of the sport. The curtailment is being further intensified by the drastic action of the Railway Department in refusing any assistance to the public to enjoy the popular pastHmo under convenient conditions. At tho time when the Ministry of Finance is at his wits end to provide money for the many public calls, an administrative department is literally throwing away thousands of pounds of revenue. In addition, the sporting public are put to greatly increased cost to enjoy the pleasure they derive from racing. There is thus a loss to the community a* there is to the country. The why and the wherefore are obscure, and in isolated districts, and whore population is not large nor the conveniences for motor traffic very great, the iron rule of tho railway embargo on the sport is going to havo a serious effect on the finances of the country clubs. This enforced wrong is clearly an injustice which should be protested against strongly.