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Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1917, Page 2

It- would be very pleasing to the officials of the Westland Racing Club to sec their forthcoming meeting so well supported by horscotvners, when nominations were called for last week. That the entry should constitute a record in these times is something exceptional and altogether complimentary to the Club. The Public at large will be pleased to see the generous support from outside owners, which shows 1 that the policy hitherto adopted in connection with the local race meetings has won the confidence of those who make racing possible. The Club lias done everything within, reason to promote, the success of the sport. I lie extensive improvements carried out on the Hokitika racecourse speak for themsolves. They were well-planned and excellently executed, and the grounds and appointments are such now as to command the admiration of all visitors however important a racing centre they might come from. Nothing is wanting, there fore, on the part of the Club in catering forthe success of the sport and iho comfort of patrons. There i s likely to he but one regret in connection with the forthcoming race meeting, and that is the need of suitable train arrangements. The Government sanction racing and expect to derive a substantial measure of income from the sport, both directly and indirectly, vet they make no effort to give the. public adequate facilities to travel by train. •Seeing that it could he done by adjusting the ordinary time table for the race dajs without adding a single extra train to the running, and that the Club offered to defray all expense to the Department for any overtime, or advertising it does seem more than passing strange that, readily obtained revenue should be thus refused. It is difficult to reconcile the management of the railways with the actual needs of the occasion in the light of the fact that the Government are sanctioning racing.

The inconsistency of the Government in regard to the matter just mentioned is not being explained. In regard to the Hokitika case there was a point blank refusal to sanction the reasonable alteration asked for, but a concession was Riven in that the Department has agreed to increase the passenger accommodation of the regular ordinary trains to the capacity of the engine to draw the load. This is a concession hitherto refused. Seeing that the Railway Department has found it necessary to increase its tariff it does seem strange that while there is this a demand for more revenue, that when the chance is available to increase the receipts (without incurring -any extra liability) the Department refuse to seize the opportunity. The figures given out by the Minister of Finance indicate the Department is losing money every month, and building un a big deficit. In the light of this serious position no private owner would conduct, his business on such stupid lines. It is a pleasant fiction that the lines belong to the people, but when they cannot obtain the reasonable use of tlieir property, even when prepared to pay for it, possession is of little value. Indeed, the ownership under the present financial drift is a positivo liability. Were the railway privately owned, there would not be this degree of stupidity in the system of administration. If the matter was not of so much concern to the public, the whole thing would savor of comic opera. A s it is, tho public know the reality and will be called on in due season by extra taxation to make good the loss created by the present stupid form of so-called management under which the railways are directed by its vorv eostly administration.