SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moluroa"). Nqwadays certain biassed bnsy-bodios yelp copiously about the Railway Department catering for the "convenience" of tbc racing public, but one wonders if these same, grumblers would put up with tbe incenvenienves that sportsmen do when in pursuit of pleasure. The bowler starts off in pursuit of "fresh green pastures" in a "reserved" smoker'; the toe-baller and the cricketer ditto. The delegate to Parliament, conference or convention shares the same favor; but the sportsman, what of him? 0! Any old ''weary willie" of a crawling imitation of a train! He's only an itinerant gambler, according to the pulpit puneliers, and his money is tainted by contact with the racecourse. Talking of race trains, did you ever j get anything to beat a ''race special" from New Plymouth to Stratford or Hawera? Or a similar conveyance from Wanganui to Marton or Feilding? Any ordinary motor could do the journey in one-halt' the time —and never miss a pub. The writ":- was one of those unfortunates rnj" home to Wanganui irons Hawera r.:ts on Easter Monday. At various stages of the journey the gas ran out, until at Pat-ea there was only one carriage illuminated out of a long train. Of course, it was holiday time,and holiday-makers have to put up with any old thing. It is little wonder tint the motors have collared the racing pubi lie. Who would put in three hours (and sometimes longer) between Wanganui and Marton when a ear will take yen I through in one hour? And not content with this treatment, the Railway Department intends to further inconvenience the travelling public. It is high time the Government monopolies were treated to an injection of business acumen. The decision of the Egmont facing Club to proceed with the May meeting will be hailed with satisfaction by the hundreds of people on tin? coast who owe their living, either wholly or in part, to the continuance of racing, and by those who have thousands of pounds tied up in horse flesh. Though possibly the club's patrons may have to put up with certain inconveniences, it is more than likely that the racing public, owners and patrons alike, will rise to the occasion and see that the Egmont Club's bold action will be fitly rewarded.