THE W.W.M.C. PICNIC.

NZ Truth, Issue 144, 21 March 1908, Page 5

THE W.W.M.C. PICNIC.

TROUBLE ABOUT PRIZES.

Why was the Winner Dis-

qualified ?

A Challenge to the Protester.

Because "Truth" didn't hesitate to say what it thought of that drunken den, the Wellington Working Men's 1 Club is not the reason why it did not attend the recent picnic, wherre, it is alleged, a lot of beer profits that ought to be utilised to make * its library • up-to-d-ate, go to provide fun and amusements, and likewise beer. Not beine at that picnic, which was held a couple Of weeks ago at Day's Bay, "Truth" cannot, with any regard to accuracy, declare -whether the outing was a success or an orgy. Perhaps it was ■a pleasant outing for the members and their wives and their- little ones, and the wives ought to reflect on the power of beer profits accordingly, but subsequent events seem to prove that m some respects it was a rottenly managed affair, and that so far as the ladies' races were concern- ' ed, great unfairness has been shown, which, had the management been sound and careful, would have been obviated. Now, it so happened that the other day a lady, who won two running events at the picnic, , for* which the prizes were a silver ileaDot and a butter-dish and knife, each lot valued at one guinea, complained to "Truth" that she has been unable to. gain those prizes, and sus- ! pects, with good reason, that t-hev have been awarded to female persons who respectfully RAN BAD SECONDS. The whole trouble, it seems, has arisen from the fact that disaftDointed . and chagrined competitors raised tho point that the winner was not the wife of a -nona fide member. This protest has been upheld, or, up to the time this was written, was upheld, and right m the face of the fact that on the grounds on tho day of the "exertion," committeemen on the grounds, and those conducting the sports, clearly stated that the races were open to all hona-fhte married women. Single tarts, of , course, were not eligible, nor was' it m any way a Maiden Handicap, or a weight-for-age or any other event carrying a penalty. This was made clear, though how the committee could prove whether t'he fair contestants y/ere married or single' or unchurched, or any other things too : numerous to mention, "Truth 1 ' Cannot understand , nor will it attempt ,to decide. Be that as it may, thjei lady who holds the unhonored orders for the prizes entered* and, what is more, romped home, Jike the' champion filly Fleetfoot. When she had i won. another lady, who is a mem-. ber\s wife, bitterly protested against the winner, not, as "Truth" says, because the wiinner was not eligible for the race because of '.rfevious performances, but because Uie w/in-, ner's hubby was not a member of i /THE BEER-SWILLING- CLUB. '■'Truth'" has been requested to say something somcAvhat spiteful against the lady who protested, and who ran second, and whose lawful spouse is a member of tho pub or club, or whatever the beer-shifting joint is, but it won't be so unkind, but merely mentions that it suspects that she has secured one of the prizes herself and doesn't wish, to r»art with it. The said lady's name is known to "Truth" and it doesn't blame her for 'grabbing the prize on a point, but it wishes to make some awfully insulting remarks on the Sports Committee that is responsible for the miserable bungling, and it calls, m a loud voice for justice and a teapot and butter-dish and knife for the fleet-footed young married woman w.hq can break lOsecs. or thereabouts, principally thereabouts, for lOOvds. and*, moreover, if the young married woman doesn't get her prizes, which she apparently won m a legitimate manner, this paper will henceforth direct its powerful influence against wives of non-members patronising future picnics, and 'generally castingV cold and icy water on anything m the shape of married women's races promoted by the W.W.M.C. It also wishes to observe that the disqualified T '6ung married woman hereby challenges the other married woman who got a prize on a point TO RUN 100 YDS . ' for a "tenner" over any course at any time, the proceeds to , po to charities or anywhere, and it moreover.wishes to declare that the married woman aforesaid has won races at the Grocers' 'and othei picnics and was never before cheated out of her prizes as sh« was at the W.W.M.C. picnic. "Truth" observed that this outing might have been a success, but until 'the Club 4o the right thing, by the lady m question, this paper will continue to have its doubts on the matter.