ENCLOSURE RUSHED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10806, 29 December 1926, Page 7

ENCLOSURE RUSHED

AN UNRULY CROWD.

INCIDENT AT. ELLERSLIE

(Per Press Association). AUCKLAND,, December 28.. At least 500 racegoers gained admission to the Leger Reserve at Eilershe without paving' the entrance fee of 4s 6d each. Before the first race a great mass of people was wedged m the vicinity of the ticket boxes on the thoroughfare that leads past the gates and down to the Derby enclosure. As the hour for the commencement for the first race drew near the great crowd increased in numbers, many of those in it wanting to reach the Derby A but finding it impossible to get past the Leger. Half a dozen ticketsellers behind the two windows worked their hardest, but the facilities were quite inadequate, and the difficulty was increased by the fact that the attendants had to give out change, the usual*, boxes where; notes could be changed not being available. As the crush became greater the crowd, realising that under the existing conditions, the greater portion of it had no hope of reaching the enclosure before the race, became restless. There was a great deal of pushing and shouting, while a number of women in the crowd were in danger of being hurt. No attempt was made to form a queue, and in any case this would have been impossible. The result was that not only were the people unable to reach the ticket boxes, fight though they did, but' the few in front who had made their purchases found it impossible to get out again. When the crush was at its worst the big gate at the traffic entrance, adjoining the turnstiles,, by some means was opened, and the crowd at once surged through. It was a case of going in whether you wanted to or not, according to one man, who was carried into the Leger free of charge. As a matter of fact, he had no desire to enter that portion of the grounds, but happened to be endeavouring to reach the Derby when the incident occurred.

There was a number of other people in a similar position. Two policemen in the vicinity of the Leger rushed to the gate, hut could do nothing until the crush eased off. By the time the ga.t© was closed again the Leger was patronised, by sereral hundreds of " complimentary" _ patrons, including many who had intended to content themselves with the Derby enclosure.