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Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1924, Page 2

I* r is not clear altogether that we have heard the last of the ringing in eases in tho trotting world. Those, however, brought to the surface have been dealt with in the courts of justice, and the results as far sis they go should be a warning to the fraternity which lias been bent for some time on tlio apparently not over-difficult task of taking the public down. Tt is retuarkuble that in all the court proceedings nothing lias been heard from the stipendiary officials as to their action or inaction in the matters brought to light. For the efficient control of the sport there is a very expensive system of .stipendiary stewards and detectives always on the wing, frequenting every meeting. Tn the ordinary course it

might l.*o thought if the officials were as alert as the circumstances seemed to call, something might have boon gleaned of what was going forward. Horses doing unexpected times, for instance. might have necessitated looking over. The fact that a supposedly little known horse should race in a hood and win, seems to have passed, unnoticed in the minds of the authorities. The associated clubs pay out a large Hum annually for special services in and about- racecourses and tlierc is no tangible result. Yet we find, a judge commenting oil the fart that certain people are in the <l know and yet the information does not reach the ears of those paid to probe lor such knowledge. However, it- now becomes a necessity of living wise after tlio event. The practice, which has been going on lias, it is to be hoped, been nipped. Tt- cannot be said in tin* bud, because there is just the suggestion that the practice Ins been somewhat general. There have been hints, too, that- there is yet more to he revealed. But what has happened will be a warning at least that for the future the practice of taking the public down is not going to be done with -impunity. Nor is it to be hoped will it be done so easily, for we may take it- that from now on the stipendiary officials will be more alert. The trotting authority itself will no doubt revise its procedure as far as it can, though it must bo admitted its efforts have been always in the direction of keeping this -port as clean as possible. Tile events recently brought to light will, it is hoped, be a wholesome lesson nil round, and for the future much closer attention will Ik* paid to various matters to prevent ringing-in becoming tlie fashionable pastime.

Tub thanks of the community are due to the Canterbury Progress League for again interesting itself in regard to tlio Midland train connection at Oreymouth on the journey between Cliristeluueli -and Hokitika. Several of the members of the League have performed the journey personally, and know .something of the hold-up delay, and tho tiresome time taken to perform the 24 miles between Oreymouth and Hokitika. One delay accentuates the other, with the result that visitors are disgusted with the experience

tliev have to pass through on the trip. Tlio meeting very properly pointed out that with an important express train from Invercargill, a shorter time suffices than is the case at Greymouth. There should "be ns much celerity at rirevmopth as at- any other centre,

while it is often the practice to have two guard vans on the train, thus permitting the ready sorting of the goods and parcels for deposit along tho 1 r lie- Tho local League is to move in the matter also, ami it does not appear to he asking tho Department too much to give this part of the district. a hotter connection in regard to the express service over the long distance to Canterbury. A smarter train connection should he tried l»v way of experiment on Saturdays, when there are extra trains running between Groyniouth and Hokitika equal to meeting the demands of the goods service, as also wayside traffic. If one express each way wore provided hv way of trial the Department could fell its wav in a practical manner without placing any undue hardship on other users of tho line. To popularise tho East and West Coast service, a good passenger connection should he given, and as the tourist traffic ail! continue to grow in this direction, the Department should make an effort to cater for it and encourage it. As it is the railway service has a discouraging effect on traffic! and a hotter communication is required urgently.