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Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1923, Page 2

The question of country racing clubs holding meetings on metropolitan racecourses was raised at this week’s sitting of the Greymonth District 6ommittee, as also at last week’s executive meeting of the X.Z. Country Racing Club’s Association. It can bo readily understood that it is not in the interests of country racing clubs that this practice should be extended indefinitely. Still, the Government and racing authorities permit quite a lot of latitude in the matter. The effect will he to considerably diminish the claims of country clubs for additional permits, seeing that they are not using what they have already in their own district, but are eager to go to the metropolitan courses, where already there is much the greater percentage of racing done. It is invariably the case when a plea is being made for increased permits for the country cTuhs that these gatherings partake largely of the picnic order, and that they are the seasonable outing for a day or two off at a popular local pleasure, and do not dislocate industry or work to the same extent as a metropolitan meeting which extends over a longer period, and takes more time and money to' patronise. Yet,

I wo road of North of Auckland clubs ' racing at Ellerslie; of the Cheviot Club j racing at Riccarton and so on. It is said that one country club, in the ( North Island has not raced on its own ! course for four seasons, hut lias used its influence to have the permit transferred to the course of a much larger ] i centre. All this tends to discount the I plea and the argument for more permits for country clubs, if the bodies j are not prepared to use what they have already in their own districts. Neither is the practice fair to other established cluhs which arc struggling on on their own courses, improved by their own enterprise, and still hampered hv a shortage of permits. If the legitimate country club demonstrates 1 its bona fides and carries on in the I face of obstnblos, it is deserving of } every encouragement to foster the ' sport in its own neighborhood. In the ; local case another year’s extension lias been given on the distinct understanding that this extension is to he filial : anti fo'r the future the Club must sol • it'- own course in order and carry on ! the sport within its own domain. It owes that duty to its own people. Tur, sunshine record for Hokitika for | the past year, again exceeds 2000 j hours. Dividing tli" year into two pe--1 rinds of summer and winter, wo have the following records: i SUMMER PERIOD. January 273 24 February 228 00 March ' 147 12 October 1-18 If? November ... I lf? 17 December 184 08 1127 17 WINTER PERIOD. April HO 20 Mnv 05 52 .Tune 146 27 July 10.2 32 August 144 On September 182 54 882 10

Those figures in<lie:ite ii very equitable distribution of the sunshine all the year round, and suggest that "Westland as a holiday resort has special claims for consideration as an all the year round place to visit. The winters" here are invariably good, and holiday makers would find that season of the year a particularly favorable time for a visit. This should be made more widely known with the advent of the railway connection. for not only in sunshine, but also in temperature, our climate is particularly equable, and compares most favorably with other parts of the Dominion. Here are some comparisons worth noting: Mean Tempo- Maximum Minimum raitures.

lAuoklan'l . Fcby. 74. a July 16.0 Rotorua Janv. 7.1.0 .Tulv 37.0 NaS’iior .Til MV. 7o.n July 11.0 Wellington .Tuny 60.4 •Tulv T'2.3 N'i'.lson .Tuny. 7o..1 .Tulv 37.7 Hokitika ... Janv. 07.0 July 30.7